Jean Gourdon’s Four Days by Émile Zola. Short summary

5 seconds

Four days, with a lifetime in between. Four stages that determine destiny. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter of the life journey of Jean Gourdon — a caring family man, a kind host, a brave soldier.

1 minute

Four days are the four defining moments of Jean Gourdon’s life.

Spring. The brightest day. Eighteen-year-old Jean loves the whole world — the cloudless sky, the picturesque valley of the river Durance, the people who work in the fields. The young man is eternally grateful to his uncle the priest — a wise mentor and a good friend. He also meets the charming girl Babe.

Summer. Military routine. Jean’s unit is preparing for an offensive. Every step forward may be the last. If only they had time to read a letter from Uncle Lazarus. A summer day passes in a bloody battle and ends in injury.

An autumn day. Fifteen years of happy marriage are behind us. The house is a full cup. It is not just the soil that is fertile — his beloved Babe gives Jean the long-awaited firstborn. Waiting for his grandson, happy and satisfied, Uncle Leaves into eternity.

A day in winter. A most frightening day. A powerful flood takes the lives of Babe and his eighteen-year-old son. Jean is left to live to raise his daughter.