Book info

• Title The Ladies' Paradise
• Author Émile Zola
• Year 1883
• Genre Classic

The Ladies' Paradise (Au Bonheur des Dames) recounts the spectacular development of the modern department store in late nineteenth century Paris. The store is a symbol of capitalism, of the modern city, and of the bourgeois family; it is emblematic of consumer culture and the changes in sexual attitudes and class relations taking place at the end of the century. Octave Mouret, the store's owner-manager, masterfully exploits the desires of his female customers. In his private life as much as in business he is the great seducer. But when he falls in love with the innocent Denise Baudu, he discovers she is the only one of the salesgirls who refuses to be commodified.

Thoughts

Having enjoyed the TV show The Paradise, I bought the book that started it all but it took me a long time to get round to reading it. Once I got into it, I really enjoyed it, although I thought it was a story of two halves that didn’t quite seem to connect. The first part is all about the struggle that is had outside the department store, by the independent shop owners and Denise herself when she is dismissed. The second part is all love story, with barely a reference to the economy at all.

I liked it anyway, an atmospheric tale with great characters and a very strong female protagonist. It’s a story that also resonates at the moment, with the death of the high street compounded by the growing supermarkets and out-of-town shopping centres. I thought the ending was quite abrupt, it sort of stopped just before the happily ever after bit, but it was still worth getting there.

Rating: 3 / 5