GerminalGerminal
Score Classic
What it's about
The thirteenth novel in Émile Zola's Rougon-Macquart sequence is outraged at the exploitation of the many by the few, but it also shows humanity's capacity for compassion and hope.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's one of the great novels of social protest.
You'll love it if you liked
The Grapes of Wrath
The Jungle
North and SouthGood to know
You don't need to read the rest of the series first. It's bleak at times.
By the numbers
- Readers65 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #177 of the 325 literary novels we rank
- #482 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1517 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
East of Eden
War and Peace
The Idiot
The Master and Margarita
Beloved
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Quick answers
Is Germinal worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,517 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Germinal about?
The thirteenth novel in Émile Zola's Rougon-Macquart sequence is outraged at the exploitation of the many by the few, but it also shows humanity's capacity for compassion and hope.
How long does it take to read Germinal?
About 11 hours (448 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Germinal?
If you liked it, try The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Jungle by Upton Sinclair or North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.