Émile Zola (2 April 1840 - 29 September 1902) was a prolific French social writer.The novel takes place during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, and the whole story takes place in and around Merlier's mill and shows the effects of war on civilians. Running through the story is quite a typical nineteenth century love story, where Françoise is forced to decide whether her father or her lover lives.From its beginnings in 1956 to today, the Joint European Series (JES) of Classics Illustrated has provided youthful minds with beautifully-illustrated comic book adaptations of the world's most beloved stories by the world's greatest authors. These books encourage a love of reading and adventure.A collection of Classics Illustrated books is an inviting start to any young person's library.