Since their school days in Aix-en-Provence, Émile Zola and Paul Cézanne shared a deep friendship. When Émile moved to Paris, the two began to write each other lengthy letters. The painter was the best man at the novelist's wedding; Zola returned the favor by acting as a messenger in matters of love. However, Zola's success and the lack of recognition for Cézanne's work increasingly strained their relationship. When the great writer wrote a novel in which he believed the avant-garde painter was portrayed unfavorably, the friendship ultimately broke apart. This correspondence, now presented in a complete new German translation for the first time, offers a unique insight into a profound male friendship that encompasses not only literature and painting but also everyday events. It is embedded in a biographical essay that addresses the life stories of both artists.