ZOLA EMILE: (1840-1902) French Novelist, Playwright & Journalist.

ZOLA EMILE: (1840-1902) French Novelist, Playwright & Journalist.
A.L.S., Emile Zola, two pages, 8vo, Medan, 18th August 1893, to a gentleman, in French. Zola informs his correspondent that he has just officially accepted the invitation of the English journalists 'and it is therefore absolutely decided that I shall attend their congress'. The novelist asks that he be kept informed if something untoward should happen and that his correspondent also sends him, as soon as possible, the toast to which Zola will have to respond to, further commenting 'They will also ask me, I believe, to speak anonymously to the press….Would you be so kind as to tell me what you think and what the majority of the journalists think. I want to know the land on which I am to walk'. In concluding Zola remarks that he will perhaps call on the services of his correspondent whilst in London. Some very light, minor age toning to the extreme edges and a few small areas of paper loss and minor tears, largely to the edges of the central vertical fold, otherwise about VGAs the present letter confirms, Zola did indeed travel to London to address the Institute of Journalists at their conference in 1893. Whilst in England's capital Zola was also honoured by one of the regular grand firework displays at Crystal Palace. On his visit the novelist was later to state 'I came away from London with a profound admiration of its wealth, grandeur and immensity. We have nothing in France to equal such things. It is a city made for me'. Zola was to return to London five years later, living in Upper Norwood from October 1898 to June 1899 while in voluntary exile during the Dreyfus affair.Zola was an important figure in the political liberalisation of France and in the exoneration of the falsely accused and convicted army officer Alfred Dreyfus which is encapsulated in the renowned newspaper headline J'accuse. Zola was nominated for the first and second Nobel Prize for Literature in 1901 & 1902.