This fortnightly prose poem is guaranteed to locate the aboriginal poet in you! Come one come all. Please join in! :D

`Abbe Mouret's Transgression' is the fifth novel in the `Les Rougon-Marquart' cycle, following the overly zealous priest Serge Mouret in his search for spiritual purity. He lives in a near constant state of prayer, neglecting his worldly needs until he becomes gravely ill and begins to suffer from Amnesia. In this state of amnesia he forgets his priestly vows, becoming a whole other person and experiencing the world in a completely new and profound way. This novel draws numerous biblical parallels, exploring the meaning of innocence and sin as well as the relationship between the Church and Nature. It is an incredibly compelling and thoughtful read with truly beautiful moments thanks to the strength of it's cast of characters. Émile Zola (1840-1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, two time Nobel Prize nominee and one of the most important representatives of French naturalism. He was a very influential figure in France's liberalisation, as well as in the exoneration of the falsely accused French officer Alfred Dreyfus. More than half of his published work was dedicated to the `Les Rougon-Macquart' cycle, detailing the growth of a single family under the second French Empire and the repercussions of alcoholism and violence on subsequent generations. Zola influenced many writers from the "new journalism" wave of writing, including Tom Wolfe, Truman Capote, and Gay Talese. Some of his best known works include "Germinal", "Nana", and "Work".

Champollion avait sept ans lorsqu'il prit envers lui-même l'engagement de retrouver le sens perdu des hiéroglyphes égyptiens. Pendant plus de vingt années, il se pencha sur cette énigme avec une passion tenace, que les pires épreuves ne parvinrent jamais à affaiblir. Ces épreuves que le destin lui prodigua, ruinèrent sa santé, firent sa vie très courte, mais ne purent lui ravir le triomphe de la découverte finale, qui a fait de lui un des plus grands génies du dix-neuvième siècle.