ZOLA (Émile). - Lot 317

ZOLA (Émile). Born in Paris. 1840–1902. French novelist, considered the leading figure of Naturalism. Autograph letter signed “Émile Zola” to Mr. Decaux. Médan, May 31, 1888. 1½ pages, in-8. ZOLA AMID THE HASSLE OF SERIALIZING HIS NOVEL “LE RÊVE” IN VARIOUS MAGAZINES. He announces that the magazine *La Vie populaire* will be the first to publish *Le Rêve*, but he is ...more than willing to grant you permission to publish it next for one thousand francs. However, I do not know whether *La Vie populaire* will agree to let *La Lecture* begin publication before it has finished publishing the work itself. Please discuss this matter with Catulle Mendès. Why not wait one more month? I would formally commit to reserving the second-run publication rights for you. Nothing would be easier, provided the date of December 10 is not imposed on you for some serious reason. In any case, please see to it that this matter is settled; I would be very happy to see it come to fruition... Émile Zola’s novel *Le Rêve*, the sixteenth volume of the *Rougon-Macquart* cycle, was published in 1888. In it, Zola addresses the theme of religion, but in a much less confrontational and polemical manner than he had in *La Conquête de Plassans* or *La Faute de l’abbé Mouret*. This time, he focuses on popular faith and the revival of mysticism in French society during the second half of the 19th century.