Four Social Romances books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Four Social Romances series?"

"There are three books in the Four Social Romances series, published between 1899 and 1903."

Q: "What is the first book in the Four Social Romances series?"

"The first book in the Four Social Romances series is Work, published in 1901."

Q: "Is the Four Social Romances series connected to the Rougon-Macquart cycle?"

"The Four Social Romances was meant to be Zola's follow-up to the Rougon-Macquart cycle. After spending decades writing about social problems, Zola turned to imagining solutions. The series was planned as four novels, but Zola died before completing the final book, Justice."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Work	1901	Emile Zola	Buy
2	Truth	1903	Emile Zola	Buy
3	Fruitfulness	1899	Emile Zola	Buy

The Four Social Romances, also known as the Four Gospels, was Emile Zola’s final major project. After twenty novels of unflinching social observation in the Rougon-Macquart series and three more in the Three Cities trilogy, Zola wanted to end his career on a hopeful note. Each novel takes its title from a theme Zola saw as essential to human progress.

Fruitfulness (1899), Work (1901), and Truth (1903) were completed before Zola’s death. The fourth, Justice, was never written. These books are less read today than his earlier work, but they show another side of the author who spent most of his career documenting the worst of French society.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Four Social Romances series?

There are three books in the Four Social Romances series, published between 1899 and 1903.

What is the first book in the Four Social Romances series?

The first book in the Four Social Romances series is Work, published in 1901.

Is the Four Social Romances series connected to the Rougon-Macquart cycle?

The Four Social Romances was meant to be Zola’s follow-up to the Rougon-Macquart cycle. After spending decades writing about social problems, Zola turned to imagining solutions. The series was planned as four novels, but Zola died before completing the final book, Justice.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order