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Rating: 
Summary: A GOOD WARM-UP FOR FUTURE MASTERPIECES
Review: "La Cur(e')e/the Kill" tells about Pierre Rougon's youngest son Aristide Saccard building a fortune for himself. As it is described in the first Rougon-Macquart novel "la Fortune des Rougons/the Fortune of the Rougons" Arstide had not been able to predict at the decisive moment the victory of the Empire and therefore decided not to build a political career for himself, but instead to become rich through fraudulent speculations. Aristide Saccard is a character that embodies traits of many associates of Napoleon III. We see some insights into how the city of Paris was changing its appearance late in the XIXth century and what role were associates and supporters of Napoleon III playing in it. We also see that the Second Empire produced not only tenacious and active predators, like most of the Aristide Saccard's encirclement, but also spoiled and coddled parasites. Such are Aristide Saccard's oldest son Maxime and second wife Renee. That is all if viewed independently of the Rougon-Macquart epic. If to view this novel as a part of the Rougon family history, it just makes it more complete. We also learn how Aristide Saccard's sister Sidonie earns her living by exploiting human weaknesses. Aristide Saccard's brother Eugene Rougon is also a character of this novel, though appears very sporadically here. Basically, however, most of the ideas of this novel are better conveyed in the subsequent Rougon-Macquart novels. Last, but not least, the story of Aristide Saccard is far from over; there is a lot more to come in the novel "l'Argent/the Money".
Rating: 
Summary: "This excellent translation...does not show its age at all."
Review: Censored in 1871 when it was published and out of print since the 1950s, this is the first translation of The Kill in more than a century-and the effort was well worth it. It is a novel of a scheming family of three Parisians during France's Second Empire: Aristide Rougon, an ambitious, wicked real estate speculator; his young second wife, Renee, who's vacuous quest for pleasure is in its own way as destructive as her husband's quest for riches; and Maxime, Aristide's son and Renee's son-in-law, an idle rich young man of privilege. No one of the protagonists here are very sympathetic, and their rise and fall-while no surprise to the reader, certainly yields some very engaging and delightful storytelling by Zola.
For those familiar with Paris, the rapidly changing face of the city during tin the 1850s and 60s will be particularly engaging. During this construction boom, vast thoroughfares are being built as masses of homes and buildings are being torn down to remake the Paris into a modern capital. On this level, The Kill works as the story demolition of the ancient city by the unscrupulous movers and shakers of the day. Zola, often described as a naturalist, is a master of description, and thanks to this excellent new translation, the novel does not show it's age at all.
Rating: 
Summary: New Translation Brings the Paris of the 2d Empire to Life
Review: This is the second book in the Rougon-Macquart series of 20 novels that traces 4 generations of a family with a book about each family member. You don't have to read the other books to read one since each stands on its own, but once you start, you may, like me, never be able to stop.
This new translation really helps bring this book to life for the modern reader. Most of Zola's novels were translated when written over a hundred years ago. These original translations are usually the only choice English-language readers have. While good, they are somewhat dated, and a new translation of a Zola novel is an event of great importance. Arthur Goldhammer does a wonderful job of both being true to the time it was written and yet sensitive to the modern reader. There are occasional footnotes to explain some terms, but they are not bothersome nor do they interupt the flow of the work.
In The Kill Zola takes the reader to the Paris of the Second Empire where Napoleon III is transforming the city into a modern marvel. Large, wide, straight new boulevards are being built to provide access to the the heart of the city.
Many people are getting rich in real estate speculation. The protagonist Aristide Saccard, has come to Paris to make a fortune for himself. He knows he can do it if he could just find someone to provide him money to get started. He hears of a rich daughter who needs a husband since she was raped and is pregnant, and strikes a deal with her and her family to a marriage of convenience. With the money he gets from marrying Renee Saccard, he builds a fortune on shady deals and speculation.
Renee is a bored sensualist who takes lovers and attends all the parties she can. She is left to raise Aristide's teenage son, Maxime, another sensualist, who today would be called a Metrosexual. Together, the two explore the sexually liberated world of 19th century Paris and eventually become lovers.
Character development and portrayal are excellent in The Kill. Zola shows us the inner workings of this amoral family and the world in which they travel. Although the ending is a bit weak, the characters and plot are excellently developed.
This is the second time I have read this book and I love the new translation. Not Zola's best work, but a very strong novel worth reading.
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