File 5 - Files: 237-243

These files consist of photocopies of handwritten letters, cartes de visites, postcards, and some transcriptions
of letters sent to Zola between February of 1887 and July of 1888. There is a clear increase in both the number
of letters sent to Zola in these files, as well as his popularity (particularly in 1887). The files within are divided
into 2-3 month section. The early files are comprised of mostly short notes and cartes de visites, with quite a
few on letterheads from the journal Le Figaro and from the Théâtre de Paris. The later files contain mostly
lengthier letters from friends (recurring correspondents include Marius Roux, Jacques van Santen Kolff, Numa
Coste, Henry Céard and Georges Charpentier) as well as supporters and critics. The increase in the amount of
letters sent to Zola in 1887 could perhaps be attributed both to his increase in popularity (some of his most
ground-breaking books had recently been published), as well as a very critical article published in Le Figaro which targeted both Zola and his most recent novel La Terre. Additionally these files include personal
correspondence and professional papers that discuss the publication of the novel Le Rêve in the journal La
Revue Illustrée.