In contrast with the epic scope of the Rougon-Macquart novels, Zola's short stories are concerned with the everyday aspects of human existence and the interests of ordinary people. From the cruel irony of "Captain Burle" to the Rabelaisian exuberance of "Coqueville on the Spree," these stories display the broad range of Zola's imagination, using a variety of tones, from the quietly cynical to the compassionate. The settings of the stories also range widely, from the aristocratic drawing rooms to poverty-stricken garrets, from the cemeteries of Paris to the countryside of Zola's youth. In these 16 stories, Zola's racy tone is faithfully rendered by acclaimed translator Douglas Parmée.