The Ladies' Paradise

The Ladies' Paradise

I certainly have no desire to frighten the female readers to whom this free rendering of one of M. Zola's best books so largely appeals,it is indeed a book with a good sound moral, fit for every thoughtful woman to perusebut, in endeavouring to point out its scope and purport, I must, in the first instance, refer to some matters in which women, as nowadays educated, take as a rule but the scantiest of interest. Still many of them may have heard that in the opinion of various fin-de-sicle seers and prophets the future of the human race lies in collectivism, a prediction which I do not intend to discuss, but respecting which I may remark that during the last half century in this country there has certainly been a tendency in the direction indicated, even amongst classes which profess to hold every form of socialism in horror. This tendency towards collectivism has manifested itself notably in certain trades and industries by the introduction of various forms of co-operation, by the amalgamation, too, of rival businesses, and even by the formation of quasi-monopolies which, evil and unjust as they may appear to some, nevertheless rejoice the heart of many Socialists who consider that the fewer the individual interests to be overthrown, the easier will be their task of conquest when the time shall come for olden society to give up the ghost. And, further, a tendency towards collectivism is also to be traced in the establishment of those great "universal providing" concerns which we know by the name of "stores", and which many a Socialist will tell you are but the forerunners of the colossal "magazines of distribution" which will become necessary when collectivism shall have attained its ends. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 54726
Author: Zola, Émile
Release Date: May 15, 2017
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Translator: Vizetelly, Ernest Alfred, 1853-1922