Now the basis for the major BBC tv adaptation. ''The
Paradise'', this is a lavish drama and a timeless
commentary on consumer capitalism. ''The Penguin
Classics'' edition of Emile Zola's ''The Ladies'
Delight'' is based on an acclaimed, vivid and modern
translation by Robin Buss, who has also introduced the
novel. The Ladies' Delight is the glittering Paris
department store run by Octave Mouret. He has used charm
and drive to become director of this mighty emporium,
unscrupulously exploiting his young female staff and
seducing his lady customers with luxurious displays of
shimmering silks, satins, velvets and lace. Then Denise
Baudu, a naive provincial girl, becomes an assistant at
the store - and Mouret discovers that he in turn can
also be enchanted. With its greedy customers, gossiping
staff and vibrant sense of theatre, ''The Ladies'
Delight'' (''Au Bonheur des Dames'' in the original
French) is one of the most richly exciting novels in
Zola's ''Les Rougon-Macquart'' cycle. This edition also
contains a bibliography, introduction, chronology and
explanatory notes. Emile Zola (1[zasłonięte]840-19) 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,
including ''Au Bonheur des Dames'' (1883), ''The Beast
Within'' (1890), ''Nana'' (1880), and ''The Drinking
Den'' (1877). ''A complete page-turner about the
consumer society, greed, fashion and instant
gratification''. (''India Knight''). ''A fine
translation''. (''The Times Literary
Supplement''). |
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