File 15 - Files: 300-304

12 cm of textual records

These files consist of photocopies of handwritten and typed letters, postcards, cartes de visites and telegrams
sent to Émile Zola between January and September 1899. This period marks Zola’s exile in England and the
correspondence likewise reflects this, as can be seen by the number of telegrams and letters sent from close
family friends assuring Émile Zola that all is well with his family back at home. As well, there is an increase in
the number of Letters of Contemporaries in these files for two reasons: much of Émile Zola’s business was
being conducted through either Ernest Vizetelly or Alexandrine Zola, and people who did not know how to
contact Zola directly would send mail to Alexandrine and ask her to forward it through to Zola. Starting in
June of 1899, most of the correspondence is addressed directly to Émile Zola because he returned to France at
this time. Most of the correspondence discusses either potential literary or dramatic representations of the
Dreyfus Affair, or they congratulate Zola on his return to France. Recurring correspondents include
Alexandrine Zola (sometimes signing as Caroline), Ernest Vizetelly, Antoine Guillemet, the Laborde family
and Fernand Labori (Zola’s defense lawyer). These files also encompass the period of the publication of
Fécondité, which is indicated through the requests for translation rights, requests for information on release
dates and discussion between Vizetelly and Brett of Macmillan Co. regarding the American rights to the book.

Added by S Mohtadi 26 October 2018.