Eugène Rougon

He is the eldest son of Pierre Rougon. He trained in the legal profession and after spending 15 years back in Plassans he moved to Paris in 1848. Here he has worked with Bonaparte in plotting the coup d'état that will usher in the second empire. He keeps up a regular correspondence with his father and sometimes attends the yellow drawing room to ensure that public opinion will back them at the time they come to power.

Eugène appears throughout La Curée. He is mentioned early on as His excellency and we realize he has an important position in the Emperor's government. When Aristide arrived in Paris it was Eugène who found him a position in the city council offices. We see him again at a ministry ball admiring his sister-in-law, Renée, and seeing her a flower of great beauty grown from the dung heap that was Paris. After references to him at other times he appears during the great ball Saccard holds during which he announces Maxime's engagement to Louise. Much to Saccard's satisfaction Eugène offers to be a witness at the wedding.