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Loading... Madame Bovary (original 1857; edition 2004)by Gustave Flaubert
Work InformationMadame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (1857)
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I'm glad I read Madam Bovary. I think I was expecting it to be more mannered and anchored in its time. It's a beautifully paced story where I could feel nearly 200 years of readers on the edge of their seats, wondering how this was going to turn out. I wondered too because Emma was at the same time predatory and submissive. Perhaps a modern, libidinous woman? I was distracted by the letter: thinking it would re-appear sooner than it did and thinking that it would blow everything apart - a turning point. But by the time it did re-appear, it was too late, and remarkably had no power. Instead, most of the motive forces in Madam Bovary were all about character. I say most because the death of Charles felt contrived and part of a general tidying-up by way of conclusion. No doubt it could be seen as a moral tale in its day but again it's character that largely determines fate as in the case of Homais' fatuous triumph. In my ignorance, I wonder what I'm missing, reading a translation when a writer is known for his style. What thrilled me was the way Flaubert chose what to describe. Thrilled not just as the exquisitely deft touch but also because the details conspired to draw the world into greater meaning. Madam Bovary made for the kitchen fireplace. With the tips of her fingers she took hold of her dress at the knees, lifted it over her ankles and stretched out her black-booted foot to the fire, above the leg of mutton on the spit. (p. 92). Sometimes, the imagery is cinematic: She made her way up the long drive, stumbling along among the heaps of dead leaves that were scattering in the wind. (p.324) There were plenty of wonderful turns of phrase She was as sated with him as he was tired of her. Emma had rediscovered in adultery all the banality of marriage. (p.301) In Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert explores a number of themes related to 19th century France, including the limitations of the bourgeoisie and the powerlessness of women trapped in a rigid patriarchal society. The novel centers on country doctor Charles Bovary and his wife Emma, the daughter of one of his patients. Emma’s head was filled with ideals of marriage and romance, but real life fell far short. She’s bored with her husband and the limitations of village life, but has no money of her own, nor freedom to explore life outside the village. The one thing Emma does have is good looks and sex appeal, and she begins using it in hopes of finding happiness. This is the start of Emma’s unraveling, made worse by her irresponsible spending on expensive clothing and decorative objects. For the rest of the novel, Emma makes one bad choice after another. I wish I had felt more sympathy for her; instead she made me want to scream. Much of this is due to Flaubert’s very descriptive narrative style. In the last third of the novel I found myself skimming paragraphs to get to the final climactic scenes. And then, once the ending became obvious, I found myself skimming that, too. Madame Bovary is a classic and an important work of literature, made more remarkable for having been written by a man. I just wanted to be more “wowed” by it. Belongs to Publisher SeriesAirmont Classics (CL89) — 56 more BUR: L [Rizzoli] (149) Clube de Literatura Clássica (CLC) (43 [November 2023]) Delfinserien (192) detebe (20721) Doubleday Dolphin (C19) Everyman's Library (808) Florin Books (29) Gallimard, Folio (51-804) insel taschenbuch (0167) Le livre de poche (0713) Modern Library (28) Penguin Classics (L015) Penguin Clothbound Classics (2008) Perpetua reeks (23) Pocket Books (240) The Pocket Library (PL-69) RBL (20075) Signet Classics (CE 2387) A tot vent (247) The Travellers' Library (144) Is contained inOeuvres, Vol I et II by Gustave Flaubert (indirect) Five Novels: Madame Bovary / Salammbô / Sentimental Education / The Temptation of Saint Anthony / Bouvard and Pécuchet by Gustave Flaubert OEuvres complètes II, III: (1845-1862) by Gustave Flaubert (indirect) ContainsIs retold inHas the adaptationIs abridged inInspiredHas as a studyHas as a supplementHas as a commentary on the textHas as a student's study guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
Classic Literature.
Fiction.
HTML: Madame Bovary became notorious and a bestseller after Gustave Flaubert was acquitted from charges of obscenity in 1856. It details the many adulterous affairs and extravagances of Emma Bovary, a provincial doctor's wife. Her behaviour explores the banality and emptiness of rural life. Flaubert considered himself a perfectionist, which is mirrored in the immaculate style of his writing. Madame Bovary is still considered one of the greatest literary texts of all time. .No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)843.8Literature French French fiction Later 19th century 1848–1900LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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What a tragic yet captivating tale!
I added this book to my “To Read” shelf on Goodreads way back in March of 2015. Now 9 years later I finally read it and I’m so glad I did.
There is nothing happy about this story, but it’s beautiful and intriguing in its own way. Immediately upon starting, I was pulled right into the story.
Madame Bovary is such a fascinating character. She’s not particularly likable, and that’s precisely why I liked her. She’s a complicated woman who makes numerous questionable decisions, but I find that makes for the most interesting of characters. I found myself constantly thinking about her and what I would do if I were in her shoes.
For a classic, the writing style is easy to read and follow but still elegant. I didn’t have trouble understanding what was going on. The chapters are fairly short which also helps.
I originally was going to give this book 4 stars, but after a few days of reflection, I decided I had to give it 5 stars. This is a story that will stick with me for a while.
Overall, I loved this story and I can’t believe it took me this long to read it. It was well worth the wait! ( )