Travail by Émile Zola. Short summary

5 seconds

The brainchild of engineer Luca Frohmann, the automated factory, is a technical breakthrough from the 19th century into a bright future. A world of safe, harmonious, well-paid work. A world of justice and happiness for all.

1 minute

Ideal work in an ideal factory — the dream of engineer Luca Frohmann. The realization of the conceived is carried out in a fundamentally new factory — with the automation of production processes, fair wages, impeccable labor protection. Unrealistic conditions for the 19th century.

The workers, interested in such prospects, at first actively move to Froman from the main competitors. But gradually the staff begins to leave when it becomes clear that perfect labor implies strict discipline, meeting production standards, keeping order at the workplace. Leaving people who are not used to such requirements.

People dissatisfied with innovation beat Froman savagely. But the end of the story of technical progress must necessarily be optimistic. The engineer survives and recovers, marries his beloved Josina and becomes a happy father. His business flourishes. A rival enterprise collapses.