Zola at his darkest

But still wonderful. So grim in parts, yet very moving. I loved it. Maybe I should read L'Assomoir next.

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Heartbreaking

Exceptional story of incredibly tragic but uplifting struggle for survival of the oppressed classes contrasted with the bourgeoisie. Very well read

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"A shuddering volcano"

The 'shuddering volcano' are the coal mines of Northern France in 1860s, but the phrase applies to the whole of this blistering novel which was Zola's masterpiece published in 1885. The coal mines digest the human poor - men, women, girls and boys - slaving deep in the bowels of the earth for a wage frequently docked unjustly and barely able to support life. Desperately poor, these people strive to support their families which are constantly expanding not only by unwanted babies, but also by sick, old or crippled family members, spat out by the pits and unable to work. Meanwhile the pit-owners hold lavish dinner parties, plan their daughters' weddings and refuse to give to the destitute who beg at their doors.
When Etienne arrives in Montsou seeking work and lodges with the Maheu family, he shares the children's bed along with Catherine, a 15 year-old pit-tram pusher and their bond becomes the emotional focus of the story. The whole 19 hours' listening is a savage cry against the oppression and misery of the poor with Etienne as Zola's mouthpiece. It is his ferocity which drives the workers' strike which has such devastating results. There are episodes once listened to here which can never be forgotten: Etienne and Catherine trapped in the swirling water of the collapsed mine; the wild, incensed mob ripping the 'bleeding stump' from the body of the baker who had previously charged sexual favours from the daughters of desperate families in exchange for bread.
There is however hope. Germinal is the seventh month covering parts of March and April in the Revolutionary Calendar. It is the traditional time not just for social uprisings, but for the burgeoning of new shoots and germinating seeds which will bear fruit. These conditions will change, the volcano will erupt, new birth can follow.
Naxos is a guarantee of the very best unabridged recordings of classic literature, partly because of the all-essential choice of narrator. With Zola translator and narrator have the problem of the characters' language. Leighton Pugh is as accomplished with reading French names and expressions - not by any means a skill shared by all narrators - and in creating a rough accent for the Montsou pit workers. To have made them identifiably London, Irish, Newcastle or West Country would have interfered with credibility. As it is, they speak an unspecific Northern English which comes across as entirely authentic and believable as Montsou pit-workers.

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13 people found this helpful

A great, bleak,hopeful masterpiece.

A real potboiler but with intelligence and heart like a great silent movie. Fantastic novel!

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Germinal review

I have to say that I was deeply impressed by this audio book. Zola is an outstanding author and certainly worthy of his reputation but the narrator here also really captures the mood, different character personalities and the whole tone of Zola’s seminal work.. I have recommended it to others without reservation.

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wow

loved it. Thank you. tragic and wonderful..well read, good accents. enjoyed being able to listen at 1.5 speed.

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5 people found this helpful

Epic

amazing story, I loved the narration too. Really enjoyed this audio and highly recommend

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A Tour De force

This is a book that takes you into a world very few of us have experience of. Despite being a colliers daughter my father never described the horrors of working beneath the ground. To him it was all about being with your mates. Zola's descriptions hold no punchers and throughout challenge our sensitivities. He makes very real the horrors of mining in the 19th century and also makes us think more deeply of the nature of society and whether change is possible.

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Bleak and thought-provoking

My goodness, can anyone capture despair and hardship like Zola? Think Wigan Pier or Hard Times, the themes of morality and responsibility woven through industrial progress and basic human nature. It is a gripping read, often and quite deservedly named a masterpiece of literature.

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One of the Greatest Books in the World

A profoundly moving, rich and provoking story, beautifully read by Leighton Pugh. I found his ability to portray such a multitude of characters by subtly varying his voice and accent to be awe-inspiring. I do not want to give away any plot details for fear of spoiling it for other listeners. Suffice it to say that I strongly recommend anybody interested in the human condition to purchase this title. It is life-changing.

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1 person found this helpful