Zola

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An influential French novelist known for his role in the development of naturalism in literature
2. A prominent figure in 19th-century literature, recognized for exploring social issues through detailed narrative techniques
3. An author whose works often delve into the struggles of the working class against societal and economic challenges

Etymology: Émile Zola's surname came from Italy, not France. His father, François Zola, was an engineer of Venetian origin who settled in Paris, and the family name is Italian. Its exact meaning is uncertain, though a possible link is Zola Predosa, a town near Bologna, and the name could be a place name. Zola later made the family name famous in French literature. His fame also owes much to a single newspaper headline. In January 1898, he published an open letter defending the wrongly convicted Captain Alfred Dreyfus, titled "J'accuse...!" in the Paris paper L'Aurore. The phrase became a rallying cry, and "J'accuse" still stands for a public denunciation of wrongdoing.