In the waning years of the French Second Empire, French prostitute Nana Coupeau rises from the streets to the heights of clandestine French society by virtue of her performance as the lead in La blonde Venus, a fictional operetta. While her performance is terrible, her sexual appeal and magnetism win over the audience and she becomes famous overnight. Author Emile Zola based the character of Nana on stories he heard about the operetta star Anna Judic.HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.