"Paris" is the third of Emile Zola's "Cities" trilogy, following Lourdes and Rome. Abbe Pierre Froment has now been disillusioned in his faith twice, once at Lourdes and again in Rome. On his return to Paris he decides that, if he himself no longer believes, he can at least still give hope to others. He joins Abbe Rose in attempting to succour and assist the poor of Paris. (Goodreads)
Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola; 2 April 1840 – 29 September 1902) was a French novelist, playwright, journalist, 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 liberalisation of France and in the exoneration of the falsely accused and convicted army officer Alfred Dreyfus, which is encapsulated in the renowned newspaper headline J'accuse. Zola was nominated for the first and second Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901 and 1902. (Wikipedia)