A tense, psychological thriller set upon the railway between Paris and Le Havre in the 19th century, ‘The Beast Within (La Bête Humaine)’, Émile Zola’s 1890 novel, is the story of Jacques Lantier, an engine driver on the railroad and the titular ‘Beast.’ Lantier is driven mad by the desire to kill a woman, however when he has the opportunity to do so, he stops himself. Later following the incident he discovers the brutal murder of Grandmorin, one of the directors of the railway company. An investigation ensues and Jacques Lantier involvement in it quells his homicidal desire. Jacques-Louis Lantier is the great grandson of Antoine Macquart and the familial link that makes ‘The Beast Within (La Bête Humaine)’ part of Zola’s brilliant collection of novels and stories, ‘Les Rougon-Macquart.’ Noted for its realistic portrayal of French society in the Victorian era the ‘Rougon-Macquart’ series stands as a hallmark of French literature.
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