Killer

Twenty-two-year-old Gervaise has not had any luck in her life. The father of her two children, Lantier, left her with his lover, and she was left alone. But she starts working hard to set up her own dream laundry room. She meets the plumber Coupeau, marries him, and everything seems to be turning for the better. Gervaisa, her husband and children move into a better apartment, have a daughter and live a peaceful and contented life for several years. Gervaise' s dream of owning her own business seems within reach. But then her husband is injured falling from the roof and everything suddenly goes downhill.

The Assassin is considered one of Zola' s masterpieces. The colourful, raw story of the steep fall of people who, due to their circumstances and alcohol, reach the bottom of society, has fascinated readers with its naturalistic descriptions for more than a century.