Best Selling Books by Gustave Flaubert

"Perhaps we identify with Emma because we too feel an emptiness at the center of things--an emptiness we try to fill with books, with fantasies, with sex, with things. Her yearning is nothing more or less than the human condition in the modern world. Her search for ecstasy is ours."--Erica Jong "Madame Bovaryhas a perfection that not only stamps it, but that makes it stand almost alone: it holds itself with such a supreme unapproachable assurance as both excites and defies judgment."-Henry James When Gustave Flaubert''s debut novel Madame Bovary (1856) was published it had already created a great storm of both repulsion and profound admiration; it is now recognized as one of the most important works of literature ever written. When the story initially appeared in serial form it was attacked as a work of blatant indecency , and Flaubert was thrust into immediate celebrity. In the resulting obscenity trial, the author was acquitted, and by its publication date its existence was well known in France. Immediately a bestseller, the French public embraced the book with polarity; many repugnant with its attack on convention, and many recognizing its great humanity and depth. The novel begins with the introduction of Charles Bovary, an unremarkable man who becomes a country doctor in the north of France. During one of his rounds he falls under the spell of Emma Rouault, the beautiful daughter of one of his patients. When Bovary''s wife unexpectedly passes away, he marries Emma, whose expectation of life becomes increasingly unfulfilled. After the birth of her child, she spins into a series of uncontrollable urges and bad choices that leads to her tragic downfall. With its unique shifting of perspectives, deep humanity, and bleak honesty, Madame Bovary is a classic that must be read. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Madame Bovary is both modern and readable.

First published in 1877, these three stories are dominated by questions of doubt, love, loneliness and religious experience, and together form a triumphant conclusion to Flaubert''s literary career. With elegant simplicity, ''A Simple Heart'' relates the story of Félicité - an uneducated serving-woman who retains her Catholic faith despite a life of desolation and loss. Inspired by a stained-glass window in Rouen cathedral, ''The Legend of Saint Julian Hospitator'' describes the fate of Julian, a sadistic hunter destined to murder his own parents. The blend of faith and cruelty that dominates this story may also be found in ''Herodias'' - a reworking of the tale of Salomé and John the Baptist.

We were in class when the head-master came in, followed by a "new fellow," not wearing the school uniform, and a school servant carrying a large desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and every one rose as if just surprised at his work. The head-master made a sign to us to sit down. Then, turning to the class-master, he said to him in a low voice— "Monsieur Roger, here is a pupil whom I recommend to your care; he''ll be in the second. If his work and conduct are satisfactory, he will go into one of the upper classes, as becomes his age." The "new fellow," standing in the corner behind the door so that he could hardly be seen, was a country lad of about fifteen, and taller than any of us. His hair was cut square on his forehead like a village chorister''s; he looked reliable, but very ill at ease. Although he was not broad-shouldered, his short school jacket of green cloth with black buttons must have been tight about the arm-holes, and showed at the opening of the cuffs red wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, in blue stockings, looked out from beneath yellow trousers, drawn tight by braces, He wore stout, ill-cleaned, hob-nailed boots.

Includes Flaubert''s Dictionary of received ideas.

"Emma Bovary, yaşadıklarından çok daha renkli bir hayatı özleyen tüm duyarlı kadınların simgesidir." — Nedim Gürsel Emma, bir taşra kasabasındaki sıradan hayatına sığmıyor, yavaş yavaş çürüyordu. Sırlar vardı orada; tuhaf dedikodular, küçük hesaplar... Tutkunun peşindeydi, ama yakasını bırakmadılar. Okuduğu romanlara bile karıştılar. O da en sonunda nesiller boyunca okunan bir romanın kahramanı oldu.

Gustave Flaubert''s "Bouvard & Pécuchet" is a richly layered satirical novel that dissects the folly of unexamined knowledge and the human tendency toward intellectual mimicry. Set in post-Napoleonic France, the narrative follows two clerks who, after coming into an unexpected inheritance, embark on a quixotic quest to master every discipline from philosophy to agriculture, only to be met with inevitable failure. Flaubert employs a meticulous literary style characterized by precise and evocative language, creating a biting critique of the superficiality of self-education and the pitfalls of social pretension. The narrative structure—an ensemble of personal failures intertwined with cultural commentary—places the work in the context of 19th-century realism, capturing the zeitgeist of a society in flux, striving for enlightenment amidst its own absurdities. Born into a society polarized by class and intellectualism, Flaubert himself was an ardent critic of the bourgeoisie, which significantly influenced the themes of "Bouvard & Pécuchet." His own experiences with education and the prevailing Romantic ideals shaped his perspective, prompting him to explore the contrast between genuine knowledge and the hollow pursuit of it. Flaubert''s disillusionment with contemporary culture and his quest for authenticity manifest in this work, revealing his deep-seated belief in the importance of rigorous thought. This novel stands as a powerful recommendation for readers seeking to explore the intersections of endeavor and futility, offering a humorous yet poignant examination of the human condition. Flaubert''s acute insights invite readers to reflect on their own intellectual pursuits and societal roles. "Bouvard & Pécuchet" ultimately serves as a timeless reminder of the complexities of knowledge, making it an essential addition to the library of any serious literature enthusiast.

The protagonist, Frederic Moreau, and his beloved, Mme Arnoux, are based on Flaubert''s youthful infatuation with an older married woman. Frederic''s puppy love for Mme Arnoux is at first steadfast and idealistic, and she remains faithful to her rather frivolous husband. Frederic''s love ends in disillusionment, as do the subsequent passions of his life. His youthful ambitions lead to failure and boredom, and his idealistic views of social progress are disappointed by reality.

In Madame Bovary, Charles, an awkward country doctor courts and weds Emma, the beautiful young daughter of a patient. Emma, unsuited to the role of housewife, quickly gets restless and begins to explore her passions. This leads to infidelities which she hides from Charles and, eventually, mounting debts as she turns to merchandise for her happiness. Flaubert''s novel is cited as the first example of literary realism and has been called a perfect work of fiction. Milan Kundera and Vladimir Nabokov have both described Madame Bovary as poetry in the form of prose.