
'Would this misery go on forever? Was there no escape? And yet she was every bit as good as all those other women who led happy lives!' When Emma Rouault marries Charles Bovary she imagines she will pass into the life of luxury and passion that she reads about in sentimental novels and women's magazines. But Charles is a dull country doctor, and provincial life is very different from the romantic excitement for which she yearns. In her quest to realize her dreams she takes a lover, and begins a devastating spiral into deceit and despair. Flaubert's novel scandalized its readers when it was first published in 1857, and it remains unsurpassed in its unveiling of character and society. In this new translation Margaret Mauldon perfectly captures the tone that makes Flaubert's style so distinct and admired. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Emma Bovary, trapped in a mundane marriage to a provincial doctor, seeks to escape her reality through romantic fantasies and illicit affairs. Driven by an insatiable desire for the luxury and passion depicted in sentimental literature, Emma attempts to reshape her life to match her idealized expectations. She faces the rigid social constraints of 19th-century French provincial life and the crushing mediocrity of her husband, Charles. Her pursuit of fulfillment leads to a series of financial and moral compromises that isolate her from her community. The narrative employs a third-person perspective that maintains a clinical distance, allowing the reader to observe the protagonist's descent into ruin with objective clarity.
Readers and critics frequently highlight the precision of Flaubert's prose, noting how his detached style serves to emphasize the tragedy of Emma's situation. Discussion often centers on the tension between Emma's romantic delusions and the stifling reality of her environment, which remains a central point of analysis for scholars. Many readers observe that while the pacing is deliberate, the character development is exceptionally thorough, providing a deep look into the consequences of unchecked desire. The work is widely regarded for its influence on the development of realism, with many noting that the narrative's refusal to pass moral judgment allows for a complex reading of the protagonist's choices.
Page Count:
372
Publication Date:
2004-01-01
ISBN-10:
019160626X
ISBN-13:
9780191606267
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