Germinal

This BBC Radio 4 podcast episode of "In Our Time" features Robert Douglas-Fairhurst leading a discussion on Emile Zola's novel "Germinal" with Susan Harrow, Kate Griffiths, and Edmund Birch. The discussion covers Zola's life, his aims with the Rougon-Macquart series, and the plot, characters, and themes of Germinal, including its historical context, social commentary, and literary techniques. The panel also explores the novel's reception, Zola's research process, and its lasting legacy and influence on art and literature, with a focus on its depiction of poverty, class struggles, and the human condition.