Nana

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What to expect

Nana Coupeau is a beautiful woman, able to attract men of enormous wealth with the crook of her finger. Part-time prostitute, part-time actress, she makes her debut in a mediocre operetta The Blonde Venus at the bustling Paris World’s Fair of 1867. She can’t sing, act or dance, yet she is stunning. Nana soon rockets through elite Parisian society, and, blinded by desire, men crawl to her feet, yielding to her every demand. Affections are manipulated, hearts are broken; fortunes are gutted and inheritances squandered. The poverty and violence of Nana’s upbringing have led her to a cold and profligate life – a metaphoric indictment of the excesses of France’s Second Empire, and a striking example of Zola’s Naturalism.

Critics Review

Narrator Leighton Pugh’s quietly expressive vocal style and relaxed pacing help listeners engage with Zola’s naturalistic and expansive novel of avarice, poverty, and degradation among all the social classes in 19th-century France. Pugh capably meets the dual challenges of illuminating the novel’s lush descriptive language and imbuing the large cast with rich vocal characterisations. Indeed, Pugh’s talented narration creates an almost theatrical experience. The plot centres on Nana Coupeau, a prostitute who becomes an immediate sensation when she appears in a Parisian theatre production despite her lack of acting or singing ability. The abundant male attention she then receives propels the story. A lengthy but transporting audio treat.

M.J., AudioFile

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