Super Short Summary

The Ladies' Paradise by Émile Zola follows Denise Baudu and her two brothers as they move to Paris and brave financial struggles tied to the rise of a grand department store named The Ladies’ Paradise. Denise faces challenges, including workplace bullying and romantic advances, as she navigates her way through the store's competitive environment and eventually finds love amidst the evolving consumer culture of 19th-century Paris. The source text mentions suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, and death.