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The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of WarÉmile Zola

The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of War

by OpenStories

Original author: Émile Zola

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"The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of War" by Émile Zola is a novel published in 1892. Set during France's catastrophic defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the story follows Jean Macquart, a farmer-turned-soldier, and his comrade Maurice through the chaos of military collapse. From disorganized retreats to the devastating Battle of Sedan, the novel portrays war's brutality on soldiers and civilians alike. The final act plunges into the tragic Paris Commune uprising, where loyalties fracture and personal bonds face their ultimate test.

The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of War, by Émile Zola. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #56799.

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28 Chapters

  1. 1.Preface3,131 words
  2. 2.Preface: Maps148 words
  3. 3.Chapter I: In Camp--A Great Disaster7,888 words
  4. 4.Chapter II: The Panic--From Belfort to Rheims8,700 words
  5. 5.Chapter III: Tales of Two Battles--The Emperor8,193 words
  6. 6.Chapter IV: On the March--The Spy9,032 words
  7. 7.Chapter V: In Battle Array--The Night of the Crime9,381 words
  8. 8.Chapter VI: An Army's Calvary--Chased by the Foe8,846 words
  9. 9.Chapter VII: In View of Sedan--Silvine's Story8,113 words
  10. 10.Chapter VIII: Sedan at Last! the Eve of Battle9,854 words
  11. 11.Chapter I: The Attack on Bazeilles--The Emperor Under Fire7,915 words
  12. 12.Chapter II: Maurice Receives the Baptism of Fire8,325 words
  13. 13.Chapter III: Inside Sedan: Napoleon's Midnight Agony--Two Women8,242 words
  14. 14.Chapter IV: A Woman's Heroism--The Horrors of Bazeilles7,794 words
  1. 15.Chapter V: The Struggle for the Calvary--The Great Charge9,623 words
  2. 16.Chapter VI: The White Flag--The Horrors of an Ambulance9,734 words
  3. 17.Chapter VII: Through the Rout--The Fight at the Hermitage7,443 words
  4. 18.Chapter VIII: Truce and Surrender9,328 words
  5. 19.Chapter I: Silvine's Quest--Among the Slain10,055 words
  6. 20.Chapter II: The Horrors of Captivity--Starvation, Murder, and Disease10,658 words
  7. 21.Chapter III: The Slave-Drivers--A Bid for Freedom8,021 words
  8. 22.Chapter IV: Dark Days--Bazaine the Traitor--The Tide of War9,499 words
  9. 23.Chapter V: Goliath the Spy--An Awful Vengeance9,192 words
  10. 24.Chapter VI: The Conqueror's Sway--Giddy Gilberte8,716 words
  11. 25.Chapter VII: Inside Paris: Siege and Commune--The Barricades (1)8,731 words
  12. 26.Chapter VII: Inside Paris: Siege and Commune--The Barricades (2)3,849 words
  13. 27.Chapter VIII: The Burning of Babylon--The Bitter End (1)8,718 words
  14. 28.Chapter VIII: The Burning of Babylon--The Bitter End (2)6,220 words