Flaubert: Madame Bovary

Landmarks of World Literature

by Stephen Heath

This novel achieved immediate notoriety through its questioning of marriage, sex and the role of women. Stephen Heath shows how this landmark text captures and articulates a fundamental experience of the postromantic, commerical-industrial, democratic period. He explains how Madame Bovary represents Flaubert's intense personal engagement with the tragedy of bourgeois culture, while at the same time exemplifying the author's commitment to the impersonality of art and the transcendence of style.

Genres: Nonfiction, Classics

180 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 1992

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

So the story-line itself is rather somber, drawn out, and painful -- about an unhappily married woman who runs from one affair to the next in search of happiness. ULtimately she does not find what she is looking for, and cycles further into despair. What makes this book great, i.m.o, is Flaubert's writing style -- every sentence is crafted with a kind of sensual poetry, that draws the reader into the world. He writes like a painter sees -- great attention to the detail of natural surroundings, subtle movements and changes in light, French culinary and fashion trends. In short, if you want to read a poetic account of an unhappily married French woman's life ca. mid 1800's, this is for YOU

[Dolunay Kocabag]

if you want them in your life you'll learn a lotabout love, hopelessnes and scheme while you're reading this book You won't want to have them after readiing this book.
As I was reading I tried to put myself in Emma's shoes or sometimes in Charles' shoes. I wouldn't kill myself because of any kind and degree of love. Emma had a problem: SHE HAD NO PROBLEM!THAT'S WHT SHE CREATED THAT DREAM and she drowned in it.She didn't even tried to save herself. This book is already a classc. It wouldn't be if any of the words was removed or added or even the order is changed.This book is full of discriptions which made it difficult to understand and gives the dramatic meaning of the incidents. Because I'm not a native speaker ı had a touble to understaand sometimes. On the other hand I don't think a usual native speaker can easily understand the book either.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just reread after seeing I AM LOVE, with main character named Emma. Still think it's as good as fiction gets.

[michael reid rubenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Bovary is the original desperate housewife.