The Jolly Parisiennes and Other Novelettes

“The Jolly Parisiennes” by Émile Zola is a very clever, brilliant and interesting romance of a “grande passion” with an undercurrent of political intrigue. The plot is ingenious both in conception and execution, while the tone of the novel is exceedingly bright and vivacious. A peculiar phase of Parisian society is most agreeably dealt with. The heroines, Louise Neigeon and Berthe Gaucheraud, are very jolly ladies indeed, but they never forget that they are ladies, even in their merriest and most eccentric moods. They are handsome, graceful and captivating, tempering their seeming recklessness with the refinement of education and luxury. No wonder the young provincial hero, George de Vaugelade, was bewildered in their society and utterly lost his head. The other characters are a Countess with well-attended receptions; Felix Budin, a rather blasé young Parisian; Gaucheraud, a fat politician; and Monsieur Neigeon, a shadowy Deputy. “The Jolly Parisiennes” is a novel that everybody will read and relish. Several other novelettes by Zola are also in the volume. They are in the genuine Zola style, strong and interesting every one of them.

By : Émile Zola (1840 - 1902), translated by George D. Cox ( - 1896)

01 - The Jolly Parisiennes - I. Two Charmers 02 - The Jolly Parisiennes - II. Salon and Theatre 03 - The Jolly Parisiennes - III. The Maisons-Laffitte Races 04 - The Jolly Parisiennes - IV. In the Volubilis Bower 05 - The Jolly Parisiennes - V. The Reward 06 - Mademoiselle Flavie - I. A Startling Proposition 07 - Mademoiselle Flavie - II. Mademoiselle Flavie 08 - Mademoiselle Flavie - III. A Spoiled Triumph 09 - Mademoiselle Flavie - IV. Treachery 10 - Mademoiselle Flavie - V. Won at Last 11 - Nais, the Brunette - I. Frédéric 12 - Nais, the Brunette - II. Frédéric and Nais 13 - Nais, the Brunette - III. Discovered 14 - Nais, the Brunette - IV. Murderous Attempts 15 - Nais, the Brunette - V. The Landslip 16 - Madame Chabre - I. Hector 17 - Madame Chabre - II. The Swimmers 18 - Madame Chabre - III. Estelle's Enjoyments 19 - Madame Chabre - IV. Shrimping 20 - Madame Chabre - V. The Castelli Rocks 21 - Margot's Gallant - I. The Mahés and the Floches 22 - Margot's Gallant - II. The Strange Catch 23 - Margot's Gallant - III. Tasting the Drink 24 - Margot's Gallant - IV. More Jollification 25 - Margot's Gallant - V. General Happiness 26 - Marguerite - I. Alive in Death 27 - Marguerite - II. The Last Hope 28 - Marguerite - III. The Funeral 29 - Marguerite - IV. Buried Alive 30 - Marguerite - V. Back from the Grave 31 - The Soldier's Dreams 32 - The Fast 33 - The Marquise's Shoulders 34 - My Neighbor Jacques 35 - Big Michu 36 - A Strange Philosopher 37 - Out of Work