A Zola Dictionary Part 35

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 Pla.s.sans (q.v.). Abbe Mouret was its priest during the events related in La Faute de l'Abbe Mouret.

a.s.sOMMOIR (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'a.s.sommoir.

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 princ.i.p.al 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'a.s.sommoir.

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'a.s.sommoir.

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 princ.i.p.al 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 (Pa.s.sAGE DES), a steep lane which runs from Rue Raynouard at Pa.s.sy down to the Seine. In an old house which ab.u.t.ted on the pa.s.sage 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'a.s.sommoir.

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 princ.i.p.al 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'a.s.sommoir.

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 Pla.s.sans (q.v.). It was the scene of a large part of La Faute de l'Abbe Mouret.

PLa.s.sANS, 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 Ma.r.s.eilles. 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 Pla.s.sans 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.

VALOGNES, a small town in Normandy, not far from Cherbourg. It was the birthplace of Denise Baudu and her brothers. Au Bonheur des Dames.

VINEUSE (RUE DE), a street in the Pa.s.sy district of Paris, at the extreme west end of the city. It is near the Trocadero Palace. Madame Helene Grandjean and Doctor Deberle both lived in this street. Une Page d'Amour.