Complete Works of Emile Zola (1906 page)

VISCARDI (SIGNOR), a Venetian political refugee, and a friend of Comtesse Balbi. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

VOINCOURT (COMTESSE DE), mother of Claire de Voincourt. She occupied at Beaumont a house adjoining the bishop’s palace. Le Reve.

VOINCOURT (CLAIRE DE), the daughter of an old family of great wealth who lived at Beaumont. Monseigneur d’Hautecoeur wished to arrange a marriage between her and Felicien, his son; his plans were assisted by the belief of Felicien that Angelique, with whom he had fallen in love, no longer cared for him. This belief having proved false, the proposed marriage between Felicien and Claire de Voincourt did not take place. Le Reve.

VORIAU, a large black dog which belonged to Bambousse, the Mayor of Artaud. La Faute de l’Abbe Mouret.

VUILLAUME (M. and MADAME), the parents of Madame Pichon, whom they visited every Sunday afternoon. They were, later, much annoyed with the Pichons, whose family became, they considered, too large for their means. Pot-Bouille.

VUILLAUME (MARIE). See Madame Marie Pichon.

VUILLET, a bookseller of Plassans, who published a biweekly journal, the
Gazette de Plassans
, which was devoted exclusively to the interests of the clergy. La Fortune des Rougon.

W

WEISS, husband of Henriette Levasseur, and cousin of Otto Gunther. He got a situation in the refinery at Chene-Populeux, almost in a menial position, but he gradually educated himself, and by dint of hard work raised himself to the position of accountant. A clear-headed man, he early saw the causes that were to lead to the downfall of his country, and expressed himself strongly regarding the unprepared state of the army. Weiss lived at Sedan, but in 1870 he had just bought a little house at Bazeilles, where he slept the night before the battle. He was frantic at the idea that the Prussians might pillage and perhaps destroy the dwelling so long desired and so hardly acquired, and when the attack was made he took an active part in the fighting. Captured by the Prussians, and being a civilian, he was at once condemned to be shot, and the sentence was carried out before the eyes of his wife, who had come from Sedan to look for him. La Debacle.

WEISS (MADAME), wife of the preceding. See Henriette Levasseur. La Debacle.

WORMS, a famous costumier, before whom the ladies of the Second Empire bowed the knee. Renee Saccard was one of his customers, and when she died owed him an account of two hundred and fifty-seven thousand francs. La Curee.

Z

ZEPHIR, the horse ridden by Prosper Sambuc, who loved it like a brother. The animal received a mortal wound at the battle of Sedan, and fell on its rider, crushing under it his right leg. It lay upon him for some hours, but eventually, on his speaking to it, moved with a great effort sufficiently to allow him to escape. La Debacle.

ZEPHYRIN, a worker on the farm of La Borderie. He laughed at the agricultural machinery introduced by Alexandre Hourdequin. La Terre.

ZIDORE, a youth of seventeen, who was an apprentice zinc-worker. He was Coupeau’s assistant at one time. L’Assommoir.

ZIZI, the pet name given by Nana to Georges Hugon. Nana.

ZOE, waiting-maid in the employment of Nana. She was entirely in Nana’s confidence, and was always ready with shrewd advice, though there is no doubt she arranged matters so that a great deal of money came into her own hands. She ultimately took over the establishment of La Tricon, which she had long coveted, and, having large ideas, proposed to extend the business by renting a larger house. Nana.

INDEX OF LOCATIONS IN THE ROUGON-MACQUART SERIES

ARROMANCHES, a small town on the Normandy coast, not far from Caen. It is about six miles from Bonneville, the scene of La Joie de Vivre.

ARTAUD (LES), a small village a few miles from Plassans (q.v.). Abbe Mouret was its priest during the events related in La Faute de l’Abbe Mouret.

ASSOMMOIR (Pere Colombe’s) was situated at the corner of Rue des Poissonniers and Boulevard de Rochechouart, which is a continuation of Boulevard de Clichy, in the northern district of Paris. L’Assommoir.

AUGUSTIN (RUE NEUVE SAINT), a street which joins the Avenue de l’Opera a short distance from the Opera House. It is intersected by Rue Michodiere, at the corner of which is situated Octave Mouret’s great drapery establishment, known as “Au Bonheur des Dames.” Au Bonheur des Dames.

BARENTIN, a small town on the Western Railway of France, about twelve miles from Rouen. It was at a point between Barentin and the previous station, Malaunay, that President Grandmorin was murdered by Roubaud. La Bete Humaine.

BAZEILLES, a village about three miles south-east of Sedan (q.v.). It was the scene of some of the most important events in La Debacle.

BEAUCE (LA), a fertile agricultural plain stretching between Chartres and Orleans, and intersected by the road from the latter town to Chateaudun. The district is the scene of La Terre.

BEAUMONT, a town of about 3000 inhabitants, picturesquely situated on a height on the left bank of the Oise about twenty-five miles north of Paris. Its church, the scene of some of the principal events in Le Reve, is an interesting building, dating from the thirteenth century. Le Reve.

BONCOEUR (HOTEL) was situated in the Boulevard de la Chapelle (q.v.). L’Assommoir.

BONNEVILLE, a village on the Normandy coast, about six miles from Arromanches. It is in an extremely exposed position, and many houses have been destroyed by the inroads of the sea. To prevent further damage, Lazare Chanteau constructed a breakwater, which was, however, washed away by the first storm. The inhabitants of the village were mostly engaged in fishing. La Joie de Vivre.

BORDERIE (LA), a farm on the plain of La Beauce, which belonged to Alexandre Hourdequin, whose father bought it after the Revolution. La Terre.

CAEN, a town of about 40,000 inhabitants, situated on the River Orne, about nine miles from the Normandy coast. Chanteau pere carried on business there before he retired and went to live at Bonneville, and his son Lazare received his education at its college. La Joie de Vivre.

CHALONS, a town of about 24,000 inhabitants, is situated on the Marne 107 miles east of Paris. It is the head-quarters of the Sixth Army Corps, and was occupied by the Prussians in August, 1870. La Debacle.

CHAPELLE (BOULEVARD DE LA) is a continuation of the Boulevard de Clichy, in the Montmartre district of Paris. In it was situated the Hotel Boncoeur, where Lantier and Gervaise Macquart found lodgings when they first came to Paris. L’Assommoir.

CHARLEVILLE, a town of about 17,000 inhabitants, situated about ten miles north-west of Sedan. It is close to Mezieres, of which it really forms the commercial and industrial portion. La Debacle.

CHARTRES, an important and interesting town, situated on the left bank of the Eure, fifty-five miles south-west of Paris. It is the principal town in the grain-producing district of La Beauce, and reference is frequently made to it in La Terre. In it M. and Madame Charles Badeuil carried on business for a number of years with considerable success. La Terre.

CHATEAUDUN, a town of 7000 inhabitants, situated on the left bank of the Loire, about eighty-four miles south-west of Paris. It is in the district of La Beauce, and is frequently referred to in La Terre.

CHOISEUL (RUE DE), a street which connects the Boulevard des Italiens, and Rue Neuve Saint-Augustin. It is parallel to Avenue de l’Opera and Rue Michodiere, being slightly to the east of the latter. Pot-Bouille.

CLOYES, a market-town in the district of La Beauce, about seven miles from Chateaudun and ninety-one miles south-west of Paris. It is frequently referred to in La Terre.

CROIX DE MAUFRAS (LE), a level crossing on the Western Railway of France, between Malaunay and Barentin, about nine miles west of Rouen. The crossing, which was looked after by Misard and his daughter Flore, was the scene of a terrible railway accident, and it was in the same vicinity that President Grandmorin was murdered by Roubaud. La Bete Humaine.

EAUX (PASSAGE DES), a steep lane which runs from Rue Raynouard at Passy down to the Seine. In an old house which abutted on the passage lived Mere Fetu, and in the same building was the room where Helene Grandjean went to meet Doctor Deberle. Une Pate d’Amour.

GOUTTE D’OR (RUE DE LA), a street in the Montmartre district of Paris. It enters from Rue des Poissonniers and runs parallel to and behind Boulevard de la Chapelle, which is a continuation of Boulevard de Clichy. The Coupeaus and the Lorilleux lived in Rue de la Goutte d’Or. L’Assommoir.

HALLES CENTRALES (LES), the great provision markets of Paris, are situated on the right bank of the river, and are directly north of the Pont Neuf, from which they are not far distant. Le Ventre de Paris.

HAUSSMANN (BOULEVARD) runs from east to west a short distance behind the Opera House. Its eastern end connects with the Boulevard des Italiens. Nana.

HAVRE (LE), an important seaport, which forms the terminus of the Western Railway of France, the line upon which Jacques Lantier was employed as an engine-driver. The Roubauds lived at Le Havre, and many of the principal scenes in La Bete Humaine were enacted there. La Bete Humaine.

LAZARE (RUE SAINT-), is in the neighbourhood of the railway station of the same name. In it was situated the Orviedo mansion, in which Aristide Saccard started the Universal Bank. L’Argent.

LILLE, an important manufacturing town in the north of France, near the Belgian frontier. Etienne Lantier was at one time employed in the railway workshop there. Germinal.

MALAUNAY, a station on the Western Railway of France, six miles from Rouen, and about midway between that town and Barentin. It is referred to in La Bete Humaine.

MARBEUF (RUE), a street which connects the Avenue des Champs Elysees and the Avenue de l’Alma. Eugene Rougon lived there. Son Excellence Eugene Rougon.

MARCHIENNES, a town in the mining district of the north of France, about thirty miles south-east of Lille. It is frequently referred to in Germinal.

METZ, a town of 55,000 inhabitants, is situated on the Moselle, about 263 miles east of Paris and about eighty miles south-east of Sedan. It was surrendered to the Prussians on 27th October, 1870, and is now the capital of German Lorraine. La Debacle.

MEZIERES, a small town of 7000 inhabitants, situated on a peninsula formed by the Meuse about ten miles north-west of Sedan. Its situation has prevented its extension, and the closely adjoining town of Charleville has become its commercial and industrial quarter. Mezieres was three times invested during the Franco-Prussian War, and surrendered on 2nd January, 1871, after a bombardment of three days. La Debacle.

MICHODIERE (RUE), a street which connects the Boulevard des Capucines and the Rue Neuve Saint-Augustin. At the corner where it joins the latter street was situated Octave Mouret’s great drapery establishment, known as “Au Bonheur des Dames,” and in it also Baudu carried on business. The street is almost parallel to the Avenue de l’Opera. Au Bonheur des Dames.

MOINES (RUE DES) was situated at Batignolles, in the extreme north-west of Paris. Madame Lerat lived there. L’Assommoir.

MONCEAU (RUE), a street which runs northward from Rue du Faubourg St. Honore. It is a short distance to the north-east of the Arc de Triomphe, and in it was situated Aristide Saccard’s magnificent mansion. La Curee.

MONTSOU, a mining village in the north of France, about ten kilometres from Marchiennes (q.v.). It is the scene of many of the chief events in Germinal.

ORLEANS, an important town situated on the Loire, seventy-five miles south of Paris. It is referred to in La Terre and Nana.

PARADOU, the name of a neglected demesne near Plassans (q.v.). It was the scene of a large part of La Faute de l’Abbe Mouret.

PLASSANS, the name under which Zola disguised his native town of Aix. It is a place of about 30,000 inhabitants, and is situated eighteen miles north of Marseilles. Aix was at one time the capital of Provence, is the seat of an archbishop, and contains a university and an Ecole des Art et Metiers.

In the Rougon-Macquart novels Zola made Plassans the cradle of an imaginary family, and throughout the whole series of books the town is constantly referred to. La Fortune des Rougon, etc.

RAUCOURT, a small town about six miles south of Sedan. It is frequently referred to in La Debacle.

REIMS, an important town of 98,000 inhabitants, situated about 100 miles to the north-east of Paris. In 1870-71 it was occupied by the Prussians, who laid heavy requisitions upon it. The town is frequently referred to in La Debacle.

REMILLY, a village about five miles south of Sedan. Old Fouchard’s farm was situated in its vicinity. La Debacle.

ROUEN, an important town of over 100,000 inhabitants, situated on the Seine, about eighty-seven miles from Paris and fifty-seven miles from Le Havre. It was the scene of the judicial inquiry regarding the murder of President Grandmorin. La Bete Humaine.

SEDAN, a town of 20,000 inhabitants, situated on the Meuse, about 170 miles north-east of Paris. It was the scene of one of the chief battles of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and capitulated to the Prussian forces on 2nd September of that year. The town is frequently referred to in La Debacle.