I have only just discovered Emile Zola rather late in life, but better late than never, and I have just finished reading The Ladies Paradise a story about the rise of a department store in Paris at the turn of the century. The sole passion of Mouret, the owner of the Ladies Delight, was the conquest of Woman. He wanted her to be queen in his shop, 'he had built this temple for her in order to hold her at his mercy'. To this end he develops a spectacular modern department store.
This is a totally gorgeous sensuous book with a deliberate overwhelming parade of the finest silks and satins, lace, carpets from every country, "long carpets from Isaphan, Teeran and Kermanshah a strange blossoming of peonies and palms, imagination running riot in a dream garden" trimmings "Spanish blonde lace as light as air, Brussels applique with large flowers on fine mesh", negligees, "white petticoats of every length;chemises made of plain calico, Irish linen and cambric" perfume, pots of pomades and rouge, jewellery.
It is a total assault on the senses and this is the whole point. The rhythm of the scenes in the store during the febrile atmosphere of the sales, the women rushing round in a fever to buy what they want, the gasping with excitement, the heat, the sweat - well, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to see what is intended here. Orgasmic is the only word.
Mouret exploits these desires and in his private life he too is the great seducer. But then he falls in love with an innocent shop girl, fresh from the country, Denise Baudu, and despite his wealth, luxury and the splendour of his store, it means nothing to him because she refuses him.
When the book is finished you feel completely wiped out, senses indulged and sated. So, again no need for further explanation and after this orgy and wallow I needed something more astringent to read so have pulled down the latest Margaret Atwood. That will put me right. It is like having a piece of Cheddar after chocolate and Bach after too much Wagner!
And after reading this you will realise that if you thought Loss Leaders in supermarkets and Pile 'em High and sell 'em cheap were new ideas, well you were wrong....
