'Fortune of the Rougons' Summary

The Fortune of the Rougons begins with the coup d'état of Napoleon III, which plunges the Rougon family into uncertainty and hardship. Pierre Rougon, a cunning and ambitious man, emerges as the patriarch of the family, determined to secure their future through ruthless means. The narrative follows the lives of Pierre's descendants, each grappling with their own challenges and aspirations. Among them are: The ambitious and ruthless Antoine Macquart, who seeks wealth and power; the pious and self-sacrificing Ursule, who grapples with poverty and societal constraints; and the troubled and passionate Eugène Rougon, caught in a web of love and betrayal. Through their individual journeys, we witness the unfolding of a larger social and political landscape, marked by both progress and decay. The novel concludes with a sense of impending doom, foreshadowing the tumultuous events that will shape the lives of the Rougon family in subsequent installments of the series.