Marthe

One of the first French novels to deal with prostitution in Paris. First published in 1876, Marthe was an important landmark in J.-K. Huysmans's literary career: it was the 28-year old writer's first excursion into the novel form and propelled him into the growing ranks of the Naturalist movement, then beginning to take shape under Zola's direction. Marthe was one of the first French novels to tac...