What inspired Émile Zola to set the story in Plassans and explore its community?
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The Conquest of Plassans

The Conquest of Plassans
La discussion entre lecteurs est ouverte maintenant. Il s’agit d’une discussion communautaire.
What inspired Émile Zola to set the story in Plassans and explore its community?
Did anyone else find the depiction of religious influence both compelling and unsettling?
How do you think Zola’s naturalist style affected the storytelling in this novel?