Madame Bovary

Author: Flaubert
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: To a certain extent, this book is a reckoning with Romanticism and the romantic novel. Through Emma's tragic journey of marriage—degradation—death, it realistically portrays the provincial customs of 19th-century France. It extinguishes the unrealistic halo of fantasy, revealing the somber truth beneath. Without any inclination to dream, what you receive is a more authentic and harsh reality. The severe realism strictly submits to reality; it does not create elevation or beautify everything into romantic poetry. It transfers the essence of reality onto the page, arranging it in harmony and order, where the true face of life is exposed. More rigorous, solid, and moving than reality itself. This book is the masterpiece of the French realist master Gustave Flaubert. A rural girl, Emma, unwilling to accept a mediocre family life and yearning for unrealistic love, makes mistakes again and again, being played with by others. She not only fails to find happiness but also incurs heavy debts through reckless spending, ultimately taking her own life by poison out of desperation. Through Emma's tragic journey of marriage—degradation—death, the novel realistically portrays the provincial customs of 19th-century France. Madame Bovary is Flaubert's breakthrough work and masterpiece. Through Emma's tragic journey of marriage—degradation—death, it realistically portrays the provincial customs of 19th-century France. It extinguishes the unrealistic halo of fantasy, revealing the somber truth beneath. Without any inclination to dream, what you receive is a more authentic and harsh reality. The severe realism strictly submits to reality; it does not create elevation or beautify everything into romantic poetry. It transfers the essence of reality onto the page, arranging it in harmony and order, where the true face of life is exposed. More rigorous, solid, and moving than reality itself. It is an artistically perfect and exquisite masterpiece of French, a successor to The Red and the Black and The Human Comedy, another of 19th-century critical realism. One of the 37 world literary masterpieces recommended by Mao Dun for Chinese readers to read.