A year before he started to write Nana, Zola knew nothing about the Th tre des Vari t s. Ludovic Hal vy invited him to attend an operetta with him there on February 15, 1878, and took him backstage. Hal vy told him innumerable stories about the amorous life of the star, Anna Judic, whose m nage trois served as the model for the relationships of Rose Mignon, her husband, and Steiner in Zola's novel. Hal vy also provided Zola with stories about such famous prostitutes such as Blanche d'Antigny, Anna Deslions, Delphine de Lizy, and Hortense Schneider, upon which Zola drew in developing the character of his title character.