
LOURDES - Of the Three Cities - By Émile Zola - Translated By Ernest A. Vizetelly
PREFACE
LOURDES
THE FIRST DAY
I. PILGRIMS AND PATIENTS
II. PIERRE AND MARIE
III. POITIERS
IV. MIRACLES
V. BERNADETTE
THE SECOND DAY
A vivid portrait unfolds of a bustling pilgrimage town where faith, desperation, and human curiosity collide. Over the course of five days, scores of characters—sick pilgrims, devout priests, weary nurses, and skeptical locals—converge on the famous grotto, each seeking relief from illness or a glimpse of something larger than themselves. The author paints the streets, churches, and night‑time processions with meticulous detail, turning the swirl of crowds into a living canvas that captures both the hopeful prayers and the quiet doubts that linger in the shadows.
Within this crowded tableau, a delicate central mystery weaves through the lives of strangers, while smaller, poignant stories of unexpected recoveries and lingering suffering emerge. By exploring the tension between scientific explanation and spiritual yearning, the narrative invites listeners to contemplate how hope can flourish amid uncertainty, and how the search for miracles reflects a deeper human need for comfort and meaning.
Language
en
Duration
~20 hours (1182K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Jul 1, 2005
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1840–1902
A major voice of French naturalism, Émile Zola transformed the novel into a vivid study of society, ambition, poverty, and power. His sweeping Rougon-Macquart cycle and fearless journalism made him one of the most influential writers of the nineteenth century.
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