Son Excellence Eugène Rougon
His Excellency Eugène Rougon (French: Son Excellence Eugène Rougon ) is a novel by Émile Zola in 1876 He is the sixth part of the twenty -volume Rougon - Macquart cycle.. He appeared first as a serial novel in the magazine Le Siècle. In 1880 the book edition at Charpentier.
The main character Eugène Rougon is the eldest son of Pierre and Félicité Rougon, which are known to the reader already from The Luck of the Rougon family. He is also the brother of Aristide Rougon / Saccard, whose career is described in the loot he has promoted, and in the money occurs later. As a supporter of Napoleon III. Coup in December 1851 Eugène has gained a position as an influential politician.
Action
In 1857 Eugène experienced a career low. Due to an inheritance claim to a print shop, there has been a conflict with the emperor, as a result Eugène resigns from his position as Prime Minister of the Legislative Assembly. Thereupon his proteges from him followers gradually moved away from him. The Italian Clorinde Balbi, a woman of dubious circumstances, hopes to participate in Eugène's power. Eugène refuses to marry her because he believes to destroy by a matrimonial alliance with her useful social relationships. Instead, he encouraged her to marry the easily influenced Mr. Delestang.
As Eugène receives from a planned assassination attempt on the emperor knowledge, he decides to remain inactive. After the failure of Felice Orsini perpetrated by assassination in 1858 appointed him Napoleon III. Secretary of the Interior, coupled with the task of ensuring peace and national security. Eugène uses the power related to to take revenge on political opponents. It can deport hundreds of anti - imperialists and rewarded his loyal friends with honors, post them and acceptable to political decisions. Through his protection Delestang was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. The more Eugène's power increases, the more the growing resentment of his followers. They are of the opinion that he had not done enough for them, and begin to work on his fall. Eugène is involved in several scandals. In the center of the intrigue is Clorinde. Thanks Eugène protection it has become the minister 's wife and mistress of the emperor. Now she has the upper hand, so the opportunity to punish him for refusing their Eheansinnens. To bring the political and personal opposition to silence him, Eugène offers on the advice Clorindes the emperor to resign. He is convinced that his offer is rejected, but Napoleon accepts and appoints the desire Clorindes Compliance her husband Delestang the new interior minister. In 1862, Eugène was appointed Minister without special division and is awarded the contract for the production of national unity of Italy. It is equipped with unprecedented power. Apparently he intended to implement a transformation of the country in less imperialistic, more liberal forms. But in truth, he has a free hand to crush the resistance to curtail the opposition and to control the press.