The author in his article attempts to find a model for the social novel Iz modernega sveta (1904) by the Catholic priest, Fran Saleški Finžgar, in Zola's Germinal (1885). The Slovene author knew the French naturalist relatively well. Although he rejected his trilogy Les Trois Villes, he praised his sense of description. Therefore, there are several similarities between the two novels in the description of the unpleasant working-class environment, lavish bourgeois parlors, and unhealthy working-class dwellings. There is also similarity in the speech of the two workers' leaders (Lantier, Rozman), as they emphasize the contrast between "more" and "less". In both novels the striking women have an important role, as they directly or indirectly cause the downfall of the character hostile to the workers (Maigrat, Seme). The author also finds similarities in the writing techniques (director's viewing of workers from a window above).
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