Author Description
One of the acknowledged masterpieces of 19th century realism, Madame Bovary is revered by writers and readers around the world, a mandatory stop on any pilgrimage through modern literature. Flaubert's legendary style, his intense care over the selection of words and the shaping of sentences, his unmatched ability to convey a mental world through the careful selection of telling details, shine on every page of this marvelous work. Now the award-winning translator Margaret Mauldon has produced a modern translation of this classic novel, one that perfectly captures the tone that makes Flaubert's style so distinct and admired.Madame Bovary scandalized its readers when it was first published in 1857. And the story itself remains as fresh today as when it was first written, a work that remains unsurpassed in its unveiling of character and society. It tells the tragic story of the romantic but empty-headed Emma Rouault. When Emma 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 an ordinary 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, Rodolphe, and begins a devastating spiral into deceit and despair. And Flaubert captures every step of this catastrophe with sharp-eyed detail and a wonderfully subtle understanding of human emotions.Malcolm Bowie, a leading authority on French literature, explores Flaubert's genius in his masterly introduction to this must-have book for all lovers of great literature.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
Emma Bovary’s pursuit of romantic ideals leads her into a destructive cycle of infidelity and financial ruin within the confines of provincial France. Seeking to escape the monotony of her marriage to a dull country doctor, Emma attempts to construct a life modeled after the sentimental fiction she consumes. She faces the rigid social expectations of 19th-century bourgeois society and the inherent limitations of her own dissatisfaction. The narrative employs a third-person perspective that maintains a clinical distance from its subjects, allowing the author to dissect the psychological state of his protagonist with precision.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Detailed examination of 19th-century provincial social structures
- Use of free indirect discourse to blend narrator and character perspectives
- Focus on the contrast between romantic fantasy and mundane reality
- Meticulous attention to sensory details and material objects
- Exploration of the psychological consequences of boredom and unfulfilled desire
- Satirical portrayal of bourgeois values and medical incompetence
- Non-linear progression of Emma's internal disillusionment
- Precise, rhythmic prose style emphasizing linguistic economy
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Discussion often centers on Flaubert’s technical precision and his role in establishing the standards of literary realism. Readers frequently highlight the stark contrast between the protagonist's internal romanticism and the bleak, suffocating atmosphere of her environment. Critics often examine the author's detached narrative voice, which refuses to offer moral judgment on the characters' actions. The work remains a frequent subject of analysis regarding the influence of consumerism and escapism on the individual psyche. Many readers find the pacing deliberate, reflecting the slow, crushing weight of provincial life on Emma's aspirations.
Page Count:
368
Publication Date:
2004-07-01
ISBN-10:
0192805495
ISBN-13:
9780192805492
REALISM
classic
France fiction
Physicians fiction
French literature
Historical
Tragedy