Madame Bovary (Bilingual Edition: English-French) (ePub)

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest novelists of the 19th century, renowned for his scrupulous devotion to his art and style. Born in Rouen, France, Flaubert's early life in a family of doctors impressed upon him the importance of meticulous observation, a trait that profoundly informed his literary work. He is best known for his debut novel, 'Madame Bovary' (1857), a groundbreaking work that sparked a legal trial for obscenity due to its frank portrayal of adultery and middle-class hypocrisy. However, the novel's eventual exoneration and acclaim substantiated Flaubert's literary approach. 'Madame Bovary' is not merely celebrated in its original French but also lauded in bilingual editions, such as the 'Madame Bovary (Bilingual Edition: English-French)', underscoring the work's impact on both French literature and its significant international audience. Flaubert's pursuit of le mot juste ('the precise word') illustrates his commitment to literary finesse and realism. Flaubert's influence extends through literature, shaping realism and literary modernism. His contemporaries, such as Émile Zola and Henry James, revered his craft, and his impact resonates in the works of writers like Proust and Kafka. Flaubert's meticulous prose and complex characters continue to captivate readers and scholars, making his contributions to literature both timeless and universal.