In reality war is horrible, in fiction .... it's also horrible.

'The Debacle' by Émile Zola is a historical cum realistic fiction (also known as naturalism) set during 1870-1 of the Franco-Prussian war. It follows Jean/Maurice, two French soldiers and Maurice's civilian sister as they endure the privations of war and the suffering caused in the aftermath.

I summarised the book as follows. "A heartbreakingly vivid story that hurts to get through. Thankfully it doesn't have the endless feel of something like 'The Gulag Archipelago' but the pain & needless agony still has a lingering sensation. Zola is a powerful writer and offers a compelling case against war merely by showcasing it's realities."

I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!

Timeline:
(0:00) - Intro
(0:30) - Synopsis
(3:33) - Warfare: Senseless & horrifying
(11:33) - Love: Intense feeling of kinship
(18:46) - Observations/Takeaways
(24:13) - Summary


Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcast

Support the show