The Journalist in the French Fin-de-siècle Novel

Amidst the French fin de siècle, the tension between literature and journalism intensified as authors sought to differentiate their work from journalistic reporting. The era saw a surge in press circulation due to technological advances and greater literacy, leading to sensationalized content. In response, novels of the time portrayed journalists in varied lights—ranging from unscrupulous to heroic—while employing journalistic techniques. Through analyses of notable writers like Zola, Maupassant, and Tinayre, Kate Rees explores the literary reactions to journalism's evolution, including the rise of crime reporting and women's publications.