<p>"The Joy of Life [La joie de vivre]" stands as a poignant example of Émile Zola's deep engagement with the philosophies of naturalism and human emotion, embedded within the framework of the French literary tradition. Published as part of his monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series, the novel meticulously dissects the life of the orphaned Pauline, who embodies selflessness amid an array of morally decadent characters. Zola's narrative style is bo...