The Dream

by Émile Zola

"The Dream" by Émile Zola is a novel published in 1888. This tale follows Angélique, an orphan raised by embroiderers, who becomes enchanted by legends of saints and martyrs. She dreams of being rescued by a handsome prince, just as virgin saints are rewarded in heaven. When she falls for Félicien, a nobleman from an illustrious family, her fairy-tale romance faces a powerful obstacle: his father, a monseigneur with his own painful past, who forbids their union.