L'Assommoir

Émile Zola

⏱ 8 minFrench classic

A hard-working laundress claws her way to a little prosperity in the Paris slums, then is dragged down with her drunken husband into ruin, hunger, and the corner still. Zola's harrowing masterpiece.

Listen to the whole of L'Assommoir in about 8 minutes — professionally narrated, with Apple-Music-style synced subtitles. One book free every day; Folio Premium unlocks the entire library.