In Germinal why was Zola able to portray the plight of the French coal miner so realistically?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Zola went into a mine to research it, which gave him a firsthand experience of the conditions and life of the coal miners. This allowed him to accurately portray their plight in his novel Germinal. While options A and C could potentially enhance his understanding, it is clear from historical records that Zola did not work in a mine or come from a mining family. Option D is not directly relevant to the question of how Zola was able to portray the coal miners so realistically.

In Germinal Why Was Zola Able to Portray the Plight