"His Excellency [Son Exc. Eugène Rougon]" by Émile Zola is a novel published in 1876. Set in the highest circles of Second Empire France, it follows the ruthless politician Eugène Rougon and his band of opportunistic cronies as they scheme for power and personal gain. At the center of the intrigue stands Clorinde Balbi, a cunning woman who becomes both Rougon's greatest ally and his most dangerous adversary, wielding influence that reaches the Emperor himself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)