Thérèse Raquin

In a gloomy apartment in the alley of Pont-Neuf, Paris, Thérèse Raquin is trapped in a loveless marriage with her cousin, Camille. The conjugal monotony is interrupted when she begins an affair with Laurent, her husband's friend. But passion leads them to commit a crime that will haunt them forever. Thérèse Raquin caused a scandal when it was published in 1867, bringing its twenty-seven-year-old author a notoriety that accompanied him throughout his life. Zola's novel is not only a portrait of adultery, madness, and revenge, but also an exploration of the darker aspects of human existence.