The Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Complete

audiobook

The Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Complete

by Émile Zola

EN·~20 hours·33 chapters

Chapters

33 total

LOURDES - Of the Three Cities - By Émile Zola - Translated By Ernest A. Vizetelly

0:05

PREFACE

7:56

LOURDES

0:00

THE FIRST DAY

0:00

I. PILGRIMS AND PATIENTS

42:31

II. PIERRE AND MARIE

47:52

III. POITIERS

48:18

IV. MIRACLES

56:03

V. BERNADETTE

59:30

THE SECOND DAY

0:01
Show text

Description

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.

Collections

Browse all

Details

Language

en

Duration

~20 hours (1182K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

Jul 1, 2005

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Émile Zola

Émile Zola

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.

View all books

You may also like