The Human Beast is the seventeenth of twenty works in Emile Zola's grand Rougon Macquart Cycle. It centers on the railroads of France and Zola's conception of heriditary mental degeneracy playing it self out through successive generations of a family.
There are three central characters in The Human Beast. Jacques Lantier, the son of Gervaise Lantier from The Dram Shop and the brother of Etienne from Germinal works as a locomotive engine driver. The other two central characters are a deputy station master and his wife. The station master thinks years ago his wife had an affair with a director of the rail road and that she used that relationship to get him his good job. Jacques loves his locomotive, calling it "La Lison". Zola does a wonderful job describing how it feels to control the train, at that time the most powerful man made thing in the world. We go along as he races through France.
Murders play a central part in the story. Jacques develops a driving passion for killing women while having sex with him. This is depicted as caused by his depraved ancestory.
The best by far scenes in the book were of a terrible train wreck in which many are killed. We also are there when the train is stuck in snow in another very good scene. Zola in a very interesting remark says in situations like this only the American passengers get out and help shovel snow.
I really liked the portions of the book set on the train and learning about the railroad business. The romantic intrigues did not grab me that much.
Three to go!
Mel u
Only the Americans help shovel snow. Huh. This is late 19th century right? Interesting to see that the American character was already seen as so different from the European character.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Americans would help today.
ReplyDeleteThis book has been gathering dust for quite some time now. Perhaps I should move it up in my queue.