The Drinking Den (Penguin Classics)
Émile Zola (1840-1902) was the leading figure in the French school of naturalistic fiction. His principal work,Les Rougon-Macquart, is a panorama of mid-19th century French life, in a cycle of 20 novels which Zola wrote over a period of 22 years.Robin Buss is a writer and translator who works for theIndependent on Sundayand as television critic for TheTimes Educational Supplement. He studied at the University of Paris, where he took a degree and a doctorate in French literature. He is part-author of the article 'French Literature' inEncyclopaedia Britannicaand has published critical studies of works by Vigny and Cocteau, and three books on European cinema,The French Through Their Films(1988),Italian Films(1989) andFrench Film Noir(1994). He has also translated a number of volumes for Penguin Classics.Robin Buss is a writer and translator who works for theIndependent on Sundayand as television critic for TheTimes Educational Supplement. He studied at the University of Paris, where he took a degree and a doctorate in French literature. He is part-author of the article 'French Literature' inEncyclopaedia Britannicaand has published critical studies of works by Vigny and Cocteau, and three books on European cinema,The French Through Their Films(1988),Italian Films(1989) andFrench Film Noir(1994). He has also translated a number of volumes for Penguin Classics.