Émile Zola

Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of naturalism, and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism. He was a major figure in the political liberalization of France and in the exoneration of the falsely accused and convicted army officer Alfred Dreyfus, which is encapsulated in his renowned newspaper opinion headlined J'Accuse…!  Zola was nominated for the first and second Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901 and 1902.

2 April 1840

Born on the same birth day (2 April): Alec Guinness • Andreas Anastasopoulos • Anne Waldman • Brad Jones (racing driver) • Brian Glover • Caterina Bueno • Francesca Cuzzoni • Hans Rosenthal • Hughie Jennings • Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski • Keshorn Walcott • Lynn Westmoreland • Léon Gambetta • Roald Als • Wilhelmine Reichard

Born in the same month (April 1840): Edward Whymper • Ghazaros Aghayan • Odilon Redon