Helen Constantine was Head of Modern Languages at Bartholomew School near Oxford before retiring from teaching in 2000. She is now a full-time translator and editor. Her translations include Paris Tales (OUP, 2004), French Tales (OUP, 2008), Laclos, Dangerous Liaisons (Penguin, 2007), Gautier, Mademoiselle de Maupin (Penguin, 2005), Balzac, The Wild Ass's Skin (OUP, 2012). From 2003-12 she was co-editor of the international magazine Modern Poetry in Translation.Patrick McGuinness is a poet and novelist whose first novel, The First Hundred Days was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2011. He has translated Mallarmé, edited the works of Marcel Schwob, and written about Huysmans and other French authors. His poetry collections include The Canals of Mars and Jilted City (both Carcanet).

This translation of a pivotal text in Zolas larger history of the Second Empire continues an ongoing effort to bring to light the naturalist novelists less-known work to anglophone readers and scholarship. Helen Constantines translation is accompanied by an insightful critical introduction written by Patrick McGuinness, as well as rather pithy explanatory notes that help to situate the narratives drama within the context of the Second Empire and the complex web of political intrigue taking place outside the world of Plassans.

Helen Constantine was Head of Modern Languages at Bartholomew School near Oxford before retiring from teaching in 2000. She is now a full-time translator and editor. Her translations include Paris Tales (OUP, 2004), French Tales (OUP, 2008), Laclos, Dangerous Liaisons (Penguin, 2007), Gautier, Mademoiselle de Maupin (Penguin, 2005), Balzac, The Wild Ass's Skin (OUP, 2012). From 2003-12 she was co-editor of the international magazine Modern Poetry in Translation.Patrick McGuinness is a poet and novelist whose first novel, The First Hundred Days was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2011. He has translated Mallarmé, edited the works of Marcel Schwob, and written about Huysmans and other French authors. His poetry collections include The Canals of Mars and Jilted City (both Carcanet).

This translation of a pivotal text in Zolas larger history of the Second Empire continues an ongoing effort to bring to light the naturalist novelists less-known work to anglophone readers and scholarship. Helen Constantines translation is accompanied by an insightful critical introduction written by Patrick McGuinness, as well as rather pithy explanatory notes that help to situate the narratives drama within the context of the Second Empire and the complex web of political intrigue taking place outside the world of Plassans.

Helen Constantine was Head of Modern Languages at Bartholomew School near Oxford before retiring from teaching in 2000. She is now a full-time translator and editor. Her translations include Paris Tales (OUP, 2004), French Tales (OUP, 2008), Laclos, Dangerous Liaisons (Penguin, 2007), Gautier, Mademoiselle de Maupin (Penguin, 2005), Balzac, The Wild Ass's Skin (OUP, 2012). From 2003-12 she was co-editor of the international magazine Modern Poetry in Translation.Patrick McGuinness is a poet and novelist whose first novel, The First Hundred Days was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2011. He has translated Mallarmé, edited the works of Marcel Schwob, and written about Huysmans and other French authors. His poetry collections include The Canals of Mars and Jilted City (both Carcanet).

This translation of a pivotal text in Zolas larger history of the Second Empire continues an ongoing effort to bring to light the naturalist novelists less-known work to anglophone readers and scholarship. Helen Constantines translation is accompanied by an insightful critical introduction written by Patrick McGuinness, as well as rather pithy explanatory notes that help to situate the narratives drama within the context of the Second Empire and the complex web of political intrigue taking place outside the world of Plassans.