Conference: The True Story of the Venus of Gordes

In 1861, a criminal case of exceptional violence shook the village of Gordes and captivated the whole of France. It became a media phenomenon, revealing the tensions and fears of 19th-century society.

This lecture retraces the key stages of the investigation and trial, while showing how this news story inspired the young Émile Zola to write his first novel.

At the crossroads of legal, social and literary history, it offers a captivating insight into a seminal episode in which a real crime gave rise to a major work of literature.