''The Fête at Coqueville'' is a novel by Émile Zola, published in 1907, that explores social class dynamics in a small fishing village. The story unfolds during a series of festivities triggered by the discovery of liquor-filled casks from a shipwreck, leading to a temporary dissolution of social barriers among the villagers. Central to the narrative are the rival Mahé and Floche families, representing the old and new social orders, whose relationships evolve amid the revelry. The novel highlights the absurdity of social divisions and concludes with a marriage that symbolizes newfound harmony.
