Zo ‧ la, Em ‧ ile /ˈzəʊlə, ˈemiːl $ eˈmiːl/ BrE AmE
(1840–1902) a French writer who developed the style of literature called ↑ naturalism (=showing people and the world exactly as they really are) in novels such as Nana and Germinal , which describe life and society in a very detailed way, and are often about crime, murder, and people who are poor. He is also known for supporting Alfred ↑ Dreyfus , and criticizing the people who had sent Dreyfus to prison, by writing the public letter J'accuse .