Zola`s father was originally named Francesco Zolla, and originated from the area of Dalmatia which once was under Venetian rule (Venetian Republic). During the life of Napoleon, Francesco Zolla became an officer, and later served in the French Foreign Legion.
The famous writer Émile Zola was born in Paris, on this day in 1840. His father originated from the area of Dalmatia, which once was under Venetian rule (Venetian Republic). Namely, Zola`s father was originally named Francesco Zolla, and he came from the Italian-speaking area. Francesco Zolla became an officer during the life of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who was also King of Italy. He became an officer in the French Foreign Legion.
Émilie Aubert was Zola`s mother and she was French. She was twenty years younger than his father. Unfortunately, Émile Zola was only six years old when his father died. Already as a child, Zola was a friend of the later famous painter Paul Cézanne (they were almost peers, and grew up in Provence). They were allegedly inseparable during their childhood, and both of them later became famous, but in different artistic fields. Zola and Cézanne lived to an age of over 60 years, therewith Zola died in 1902, and Cézanne in 1906.
