“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. - Summary by the Publisher
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Chapters
- Chapter 1
The Jolly Parisiennes - I. Two Charmers
16:22 - Chapter 2
The Jolly Parisiennes - II. Salon and Theatre
14:29 - Chapter 3
The Jolly Parisiennes - III. The Maisons-Laffitte Races
15:49 - Chapter 4
The Jolly Parisiennes - IV. In the Volubilis Bower
12:18 - Chapter 5
The Jolly Parisiennes - V. The Reward
10:15 - Chapter 6
Mademoiselle Flavie - I. A Startling Proposition
18:23 - Chapter 7
Mademoiselle Flavie - II. Mademoiselle Flavie
14:21 - Chapter 8
Mademoiselle Flavie - III. A Spoiled Triumph
19:41 - Chapter 9
Mademoiselle Flavie - IV. Treachery
17:29 - Chapter 10
Mademoiselle Flavie - V. Won at Last
06:14 - Chapter 11
Nais, the Brunette - I. Frédéric
13:41 - Chapter 12
Nais, the Brunette - II. Frédéric and Nais
13:58 - Chapter 13
Nais, the Brunette - III. Discovered
14:02 - Chapter 14
Nais, the Brunette - IV. Murderous Attempts
13:36 - Chapter 15
Nais, the Brunette - V. The Landslip
11:54 - Chapter 16
Madame Chabre - I. Hector
14:34 - Chapter 17
Madame Chabre - II. The Swimmers
14:39 - Chapter 18
Madame Chabre - III. Estelle's Enjoyments
15:11 - Chapter 19
Madame Chabre - IV. Shrimping
15:13 - Chapter 20
Madame Chabre - V. The Castelli Rocks
16:19 - Chapter 21
Margot's Gallant - I. The Mahés and the Floches
18:04 - Chapter 22
Margot's Gallant - II. The Strange Catch
20:58 - Chapter 23
Margot's Gallant - III. Tasting the Drink
19:16 - Chapter 24
Margot's Gallant - IV. More Jollification
17:44 - Chapter 25
Margot's Gallant - V. General Happiness
14:06 - Chapter 26
Marguerite - I. Alive in Death
12:21 - Chapter 27
Marguerite - II. The Last Hope
14:05 - Chapter 28
Marguerite - III. The Funeral
13:26 - Chapter 29
Marguerite - IV. Buried Alive
15:28 - Chapter 30
Marguerite - V. Back from the Grave
09:58 - Chapter 31
The Soldier's Dreams
23:24 - Chapter 32
The Fast
12:38 - Chapter 33
The Marquise's Shoulders
07:14 - Chapter 34
My Neighbor Jacques
08:15 - Chapter 35
Big Michu
11:47 - Chapter 36
A Strange Philosopher
07:33 - Chapter 37
Out of Work
11:57