The Belly of Paris Audiobook By Émile Zola, Ernest Alfred Vizetelly - translator cover art

The Belly of Paris

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The Belly of Paris

By: Émile Zola, Ernest Alfred Vizetelly - translator
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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Although it is little known in this country, The Belly of Paris is considered one of Émile Zola’s best novels. Set in the newly built food markets of Paris, it is a story of wealth and poverty set against a sumptuous banquet of food and commerce.

Having just escaped from prison after being wrongfully accused, young Florent arrives at Paris’ food market, Les Halles, half starved, surrounded by all he can’t have, and indignant at his world, which he now knows to be unjust. He finds that the city’s working classes have been displaced to make way for bigger streets and bourgeois living quarters, so he settles in with his brother’s family. Gradually, he takes up with the local socialists, who are more at home in bars than on the revolutionary streets. Slowly, the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor drags the city to the breaking point.

©1996 Translation by Sun & Moon Press (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics

Critic reviews

"[The novel’s] descriptions of cuisine…are notable for their length, detail, and humor." ( Washington Post)
"One of Zola’s own favorites, The Belly of Paris is a brilliant exposition of one man’s fragmentation and an often painful indictment of those who live innocent of infamy or praise." ( Publishers Weekly)

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More about the beauties of the food than the story. Story still good and I wished for more of the story detail.

Food market revealed

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This is an unapologetically harsh story, so be ready for that. The incredible descriptions of food, the cast of characters (so eccentric they must be real—we know these weirdos), and the intricacies of life and business around the markets of Paris are captivating from beginning to end. I think the narrator does an excellent job of reading for the different characters, and his style is very distinct. This is a novel for foodies, for sure.

One of my favorites

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I’m not keen on Frederick Davidson’s voice. His performance on the women in the market are not that distinguishable, their raspiness made my voice hurt. His performance of Florent was breathy made my lungs feel constrained, and my throat tightened. His acting was superb, but the accompanying voices didn’t give the movement its instrument.

Not keen on Davidson’s voice

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