Therese Raquin

In a dingy apartment on the Passage du Pont-Neuf in Paris, Therese Raquin is trapped in a loveless marriage to her sickly cousin, Camille. The numbing tedium of her life is suddenly shattered when she embarks on a turbulent affair with her husband's earthy friend, Laurent. But their passion for each other soon compels the lovers to commit a crime that will haunt them forever. Therese Raquin caused a scandal when it appeared in 1867 and brought its twenty seven-year-old author a notoriety that followed him throughout his life. Zola's novel is not only an uninhibited portrayal of adultery, madness, and ghostly revenge but also a devastating exploration of the darkest aspects of human existence. Emile Zola was born in Paris in 1840 and raised in a poor family at Aix-en-Provence. He published many works, but is perhaps most famous for his incredible series of novels, Les Rougon-Macquart, one of the chief monuments of the French Naturalist Movement, which sets out to reveal scientifically the effects of heredity and environment on one family. By modern standards, Traci Svendsgaard lives a simple life in Southern Oregon. In addition to a 25-year voice over career, Traci and her husband Lars host "The Retro Lounge" at JPR in Ashland. Narrating audio books is a dream come true.