"Germinal" is a masterpiece novel by the outstanding French writer Emile Zola. It tells the story of workers in the coal mines of France in the 19th century. The main character, Etienne Lanson, comes to work in a mine, where he joins with other workers in the fight for better working conditions. The novel depicted the brutality and poverty of the working class at the time, as well as the sense of solidarity and struggle for justice. "Germinal" is not only a literary masterpiece, but also a real challenge to social inequalities.