First snowdrops of the year, and His Excellency by Émile Zola.

Yesterday was Imbloc, which is the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, and I found the first spring flowers! Snowdrops, or their proper name Galanthus, from the Greek γάλα (milk) and άνθος (flower), are always a very welcome sight in February, and I'm reminded of Wordsworth's Two-Part Ballad - "Planting my snowdrops among winter snows." There was some more snow again yesterday, all melted once again, and it is another mild day. I'm hoping that I might get a few more pictures of some spring flowers later today. As I've said, February can be a difficult month, however the flowers are already emerging, and there has been sun, at some point, every day so far this month.

Last night, sitting in the car in Carlisle, I managed to finish His Excellency by Émile Zola. It was the one I was least looking forward to, not because of it's subject but because of the poor quality print. It was very difficult to read: some words were blurred, there were misprints, and with many lines I could only make out the bottom half of each letter. From what I did manage to read, I enjoyed very much, however it was a case of appreciating certain lines rather than the overall novel. I'm keen on getting a good quality edition one of these days, because I do think I would have enjoyed it. But, as it is, I'm unable to write anything much more than this. I can say it was about the power-obsessed Eugène Rougon (introduced in The Fortune of the Rougons, responsible for sending Abbé Faujas to Plassans in The Conquest of Plassans), the son of Pierre and Félicité Rougon, brother of Aristide Saccard (The Kill) and Doctor Pascal (seen most notably, I think, in Abbé Mouret's Trangression), Sidone (The Kill) and Marthe (Conquest of Plassans). It follows his career in Paris, where he and his associates vie for political gain and, therefore, money, telling of the corruption within the Second Empire government under Napolean III. His main associate is Clorinde Balbi, who, whilst ambitious, will never get far because she is a woman, and he encourages her to marry M. Delestang who can be easily manipulated. Throughout the novel, Eugène grows more powerful and more destable, even ignoring the plans for the assassination attempt of Napoleon III, and, ultimately, it does serve him well. He is reinstated as Minister without Portfolio, giving him unlimited control of the press and power to destroy any opposition. I had hoped that, as with other works by Zola, there would be a grim ending for the main character, however this would not be Zola. Zola draws attention to injustice and corruption, and what would be the point if Eugéne was not to succeed?

So, what I could make of it, it was another excellent Zola. One day, one day, I will get my translations and editions in order! For now, well, I'm ready for L'Assommoir, the seventh of the 'Rougon Macquart' cycle, which I will be starting when I'm in Paris next week. Until then, I've made a start with The Three Musketeers (too early to make any comment on it, though enjoying it well enough so far). And, as I say, I'll be looking for some more flowers today, as well as preparing for next week's trip. I still hope to write a summary of The Faerie Queen Book III, however I must admit this is looking less likely as time ticks on, so for now, here are some more snowdrops!