The Rush for the Spoil (La Curée): A Realistic Novel

by Émile Zola

"The Rush for the Spoil (La Curée): A Realistic Novel" by Émile Zola is a novel serialized from 1871 to 1872. Set against Baron Haussmann's reconstruction of Paris, it follows Aristide Saccard, who exploits insider information about property demolitions to amass a fortune. His marriage to wealthy Renée is purely transactional, but when she begins an affair with his son Maxime, a dangerous triangle emerges. Zola crafts a scathing portrait of Second Empire excess, greed, and moral decay among Paris's nouveau riche.