Doctor Pascal: A Novel by Émile Zola | Oxford World Classics

**Doctor Pascal** is the twentieth and final novel in Émile Zola's monumental Rougon-Macquart series. First published in 1893, the novel tells the story of Pascal Rougon, a doctor who is struggling to come to terms with his family's dark past.

Pascal is the son of Antoine Macquart, a drunkard and brute, and Félicité Rougon, a ruthless and ambitious woman. Pascal's childhood is marked by violence and poverty, and he grows up to be a sensitive and thoughtful man who is haunted by his family's history.

When Pascal inherits a fortune from his uncle, he uses it to establish a hospital in the town of Plassans. The hospital is a refuge for the poor and sick, and it becomes a symbol of Pascal's compassion and dedication to helping others.

However, Pascal's past continues to haunt him. His father's alcoholism and his mother's cruelty have left deep scars on his psyche, and he struggles to find peace and happiness.

**Doctor Pascal** is a powerful and moving novel that explores the themes of family, heredity, and redemption. Zola's masterful storytelling and his unflinching depiction of human nature make this novel a must-read for anyone interested in French literature or the history of medicine.