Everyday Systems

This question is mostly for Reinhard, but I'd be happy to get the info from anybody who knows the answer...

Has anyone figured out the name of the French Novel that Reinhard used as inspiration for picking up a Sledgehammer as a means of daily exercise? I will soon be making a post about a little shovel glove exercise I came up with that I feel best approximates the movement of a Locomotive 'Fireman' shoveling coal into a steam engine. I just wanted to include the original quote from Reinhard's book that talks about the rippling abdominals of most coal shovelers. I've only been doing the exercise for half a month, so I'm not the poster child for this, but I think the movement does a decent job of targeting the abs. Just wanted to add the quote for extra 'clout'.

I'm surprised it's taken this long for someone to inquire!

But I'm afraid it may take a little research...

My first thought was it must have been Emile Zola's Germinal, but I can't find it in there.

I think it may actually have been from an art book at my mom's house quoting Edgar Degas. I should have looked while I was there over Easter weekend.

Reinhafd

reinhard wrote: I think it may actually have been from an art book at my mom's house quoting Edgar Degas. I should have looked while I was there over Easter weekend.

Reinhafd

Doh!

My search-fu is weak. Couldn't find much of a connection between Edgar Degas and Coal Shoveling via Google. The only 'quotes' from Degas online are about Art, not lowly manual labor.