Germinal

'There is a germ of revolt in every injustice.'

Part of Zola's ambitious twenty-volume series Les Rougon-Macquart, Germinal is one of the most notable novels written in the French tradition and is often considered Zola's masterpiece.

First serialised in the periodical Gil Blas in 1884, Germinal is a profoundly gripping novel that explores the harsh realities of industrial life in nineteenth century France. When Étienne Lantier arrives in the town of Montsou in search for work, he is confronted by the brutal conditions endured by the coal miners: gruelling shifts, meagre wages and backbreaking labour. As Étienne immerses himself in the community, he takes it upon himself to become a voice for the labourers and a leader in their fight for justice. As tensions rise and a minor's strike begins to brew, Zola candidly depicts a devastating spiral into violence and despair. Through vivid characters and uncompromising realism, Zola movingly captures the human cost of capitalism with a blossoming hope for revolution. This audiobook edition is beautifully narrated by David Rintoul. Émile Zola (1840 – 1902) was a French novelist, playwright and journalist. He was also a keen adopter of naturalism, famed for his realistic depictions of characters and their environments. Nominated for the first and second Nobel Prizes in Literature in 1901 and 1902, Zola's work is still widely read and respected today.

© 2025 SNR Audio (Audiobook): 9781805368151

Release date

Audiobook: September 1, 2025