"'In an age when gastronomic fiction has become fashionable, ' Emile Zola's 1873 novel The Belly of Paris... 'seems ahead of its time, ' writes food historian Mark Kurlansky in the introduction to his new translation of the book. Set amid the bustling Les Halles market, the novel 'revolves around the graphically illustrated conceit that the bourgeoisie not only eats too much but has an unhealthy obsession with food.' Its descriptions of cuisine, too, are notable for their length, detail and humor."–Washington Post
"It's totally appropriate that food-writer Mark Kurlansky should helm Modern Library Classics' new translation of Émile Zola's The Belly of Paris. Not only does he have a keen ear for Zola's revolutionary naturalism, he also captures the passion at the heart (or gut) of The Belly of Paris-a passion for food." –Biblioklept