Zolaesque

1 9.9

Showing detailed, realistic life and the problems of poor people in cities

adjective
/zoʊləˈɛsk/

Literature

: zolaesque

Her latest novel adopts a Zolaesque tone, exposing the struggles of the urban poor with unflinching detail.

Examples

Critics praised the film’s Zolaesque attention to social injustice and its stark, realistic portrayal of life.
The author’s Zolaesque descriptions bring to life the harsh realities of working-class Paris.
That was a Zolaesque moment!
The novel's Zolaesque style captivated readers with its vivid realism.
Critics praised the film’s Zolaesque attention to social injustice and its stark, realistic portrayal of life.
Her latest novel adopts a Zolaesque tone, exposing the struggles of the urban poor with unflinching detail.
The author’s Zolaesque descriptions bring to life the harsh realities of working-class Paris.

Synonyms

Flaubertian

vsZolaesque

Literature

1 9.9

Showing the careful, realistic style of the writer Gustave Flaubert

emphasizes social issues and gritty, detailed realism

Balzacian

vsZolaesque

Literature

1 9.9

Showing many people and their detailed social lives like Balzac's novels

focuses on detailed realism and specific social problems

Surface Forms

Zolaesque positive

Morphology

Zolaesque = Zola (transparent) = Zola + esque

Formed by attaching the adjectival suffix '-esque' to the proper name 'Zola', meaning 'in the style of Zola', which is directly recoverable for learners.

Etymology

Zolaesque comes from the French writer Émile Zola and the ending -esque, which means 'in the style of', as in picturesque. So Zolaesque means 'like Zola' and usually describes writing or art that shows close, often harsh, real detail about people's lives and social problems.