The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of War: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of War: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of War is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Zola, Émile (1840–1902). The listed translation credits are Vizetelly, Ernest Alfred (1853–1922).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of War" by Émile Zola is a novel published in 1892. Set during France's catastrophic defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the story follows Jean Macquart, a farmer-turned-soldier, and his comrade Maurice through the chaos of military collapse. From disorganized retreats to the devastating Battle of Sedan, the novel portrays war's brutality on soldiers and civilians alike. The final act plunges into the tragic Paris Commune uprising, where loyalties fracture and personal bonds face their ultimate test.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Downfall (La Débâcle): A Story of the Horrors of War
- Author credits: Zola, Émile (1840–1902)
- Catalogue language: English
- Translator credits: Vizetelly, Ernest Alfred (1853–1922)
Catalogue subjects
- Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871 -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: French Literature
- Category: Historical Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


