Synopses & Reviews
"I want to write the moral history of the men of my generationand#151;or, more accurately, the history of their feelings," declared Gustave Flaubert, who envisioned "a book about love, about passion; but passion such as can exist nowadaysand#151;that is to say, inactive." First published in 1869, this novel fulfills Flaubert's conception with a realistic, ironic portrait of bourgeois lives played out against France's tumultuous revolution of 1848 and the founding of its Second Empire.
Frand#233;dand#233;ric Moreau, a law student in Paris, dreams of achieving success in art, business, journalism, and politics. His aspirations take a romantic turn upon a chance encounter with a married woman, who inspires a lifelong obsession. Frand#233;dand#233;ric befriends his idol's husband, an influential art dealer, and quickly finds himself seduced by society lifeand#151;and bedeviled by financial problems, ideological conflicts, and betrayals of trust. Blending romance, historical authenticity, and satire, Flaubert's Sentimental Education ranks among the nineteenth century's great novels.
Synopsis
Critics have argued whether this is the greatest French novel of the 19th century or simply of all time. Flaubert set out to record the moral history of his generation, and he labored over every word for five years. A melodious portrait of a young man's obsessive love for an older woman, it mirrored his own life and cemented his literary immortality.
Synopsis
A law student in Paris dreams of professional success, but his aspirations turn toward amour upon a chance encounter with a married woman. Set amid the revolution of 1848, Flaubert's masterpiece combines political and social upheaval with scrutiny of individual motives in a compelling blend of romance, history, and satire.
Synopsis
Set amid the revolution of 1848, Flaubert's masterpiece combines political and social upheaval with scrutiny of individual motives in a compelling blend of romance, history, and satire.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Louise Bogan
Book I
I. A Promising Episode
II. The Wisdom of Youth
III. The Ruling Passion
IV. The Eternal Feminine
V. A Consuming Love
VI. Hopes Deferred
VII. Paris Again
VIII. Frederick Entertains and Is Entertained
IX. The Family Friend
X. A Pleasant Little Dinner
XI. A Duel
XII. Little Louise Becomes a Woman
XIII. Rosanette in a New Rand#244;le
Book II
XIV. Revolutionary Days
XV. Louise Is Disillusioned
XVI. Three Charming Women
XVII. Frederick's Betrothal
XVIII. Under the Hammer
XIX. After Many Years
XX. When a Man's Forty