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"Nana" is a novel by Émile Zola. It was published in 1880. It is the ninth book in Zola's Rougon-Macquart series. It takes place during the late years of France’s Second Empire (1852–1870), a period of excess, corruption, and decadence, which Zola critiques through the rise and fall of its protagonist, Nana Coupeau. Plot summary The novel opens in 1867 at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris, where Nana, a young actress with no real talent, is performing in a new play, La Blonde Vénus. Despite her weak singing and acting, her sheer beauty and erotic presence captivate the audience, particularly the wealthy and powerful men who come to admire her. One of Nana’s first admirers is Count Muffat, a respectable nobleman married to the pious Sabine Muffat. Another is Steiner, a Jewish banker who immediately becomes her financial patron. Nana, despite her humble origins as the daughter of a drunkard (Gervaise from L’Assommoir), quickly understands the power she holds over men and be...

Anandvardhana was a Kashmiri court poet and literary critic, honored with the title of Rajanak during King Avantivarman's reign.  Anandavardhana authored the Dhvanyāloka , or A Light on Suggestion (dhwani), a work articulating the philosophy of "aesthetic suggestion" (dhwani, vyañjanā). Anandavardhana is credited with creating the dhwani theory. He wrote that dhwani (meaning sound, or evocation) is the "soul" or "essence" (ātman) of poetry (kavya).  Anandavardhana said, "When the poet writes, he creates a eloquent field of emotions." To understand the poetry, the reader or hearer must be on the same wavelength. Important points~ •Dhvani theory is a theory of suggestion that is considered to be the soul of poetry.  •The theory of Dhvani is a major contribution to Sanskrit literary theory.  •The theory of Dhvani suggests that the main goal of good poetry is to evoke a mood or "flavor" (rasa).  •The theory of Dhvani suggests that this...