Editing Son Excellence Eugène Rougon (section)

==Historical basis==

In a preface to the English translation (''His Excellency''. London: Chatto & Windus), Vizetelly states that. in his opinion:
<blockquote>
"with all due allowance for its somewhat limited range of subject, ''Son Excellence Eugene Rougon'' is the one existing French novel which gives the reader a fair general idea of what occurred in political spheres at an important period of the Empire. But His Excellency Eugene Rougon is not, as many critics and others have supposed, a mere portrait or caricature of [[Eugène Rouher|His Excellency Eugène Rouher]], the famous Vice-Emperor of history. Symbolism is to be found in every one of Zola's novels, and Rougon, in his main lines, is but the symbol of a principle, or, to be accurate, the symbol of a certain form of the principle of authority. His face is Rouher's, like his build and his favorite gesture; but with Rouher's words, actions, opinions, and experiences are blended those of half a dozen other personages. He is the incarnation of that craving, that lust for power which impelled so many men of ability to throw all principle to the winds and become the instruments of an abominable system of government. And his transformation at the close of the story is in strict accordance with historical facts."
</blockquote>