Madame Bovary: 150th Anniversary Edition (Signet Classics) [Paperback]

Gustave Flaubert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2001

Set amid the stifling atmosphere of nineteenth-century bourgeois France, Madame Bovary is at once an unsparing depiction of a woman's gradual corruption and a savagely ironic study of human stupidity. Provocative and deeply tragic, it is "possibly the most beautifully written book ever composed" (Frank O'Connor).

Translated by Mildred Marmur
With a New Introduction by Robin Morgan

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Madame Bovary is like the railroad stations erected in its epoch: graceful, even floral, but cast of iron." -- John Updike


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley (November 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451528204
• ISBN-13: 978-0451528209
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880), the younger son of a provincial doctor, briefly studied law before devoting himself to writing, with limited success during his lifetime. After the publication of Madame Bovary in 1857, he was prosecuted for offending public morals.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Classic, November 9, 2002

By 

Eva Vieyra-McDaniel "dog lover" (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Madame Bovary: 150th Anniversary Edition (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

I read this book as a required reading for my 12 grade Advanced Placement english class and found it a very quick, enjoyable read. Often times a lot is lost in translation, but with a book as wonderful as Madame Bovary, no matter how you slice it it comes off as a masterpiece. A wonderful story about the rise and fall of a once peasant farm girl to a woman of luxury and an adulturous past. This book has everything: sex, love, passion, intrigue, tragedy, death, lies, and appealing characters. Read Madame Bovary!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Masterpiece, February 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Madame Bovary: 150th Anniversary Edition (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

Madame Bovary is, without a doubt, the best book I have ever read, and I love to read. This is a story about human nature and irony. Emma Bovary wants every man, but the man who adores her. She is selfish, oblivious, and cold. Her husband, Charles, is crazy for her, and she is disgusted by his unconditional love for her. This book is exciting and adventerous, but the element of reality is there too. The mixture of fantasy and reality is beautiful. If you enjoy reading, then this book is a must! I can not reccommend it too highly.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Tragedy, January 3, 2006

By 

Fitzgerald Fan (Royal Oak, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Madame Bovary: 150th Anniversary Edition (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

This is one of those books that always seems to come up in literary conversations, and because I like to be in the know, I decided I would pick it up between college courses and give it a try. I Loved It!!!
I was a bit surprised by the introduction to this particular book because the woman who authored it, Robin Morgan, seemed more than a touch pissed off that Flaubert was a sexist ass. In my opinion, as a feminist, it does not matter one bit. This novel is tragic, yes, but beautifully and fluidly written. While Flaubert may have been some kind of jerk (according to Robin Morgan) in his personal and/or literary life, this masterpiece is certainly worthy of praise regardless.
Sure, the characters are unlikable...and that is putting it nicely...but I cannot, in any way, say that they are unbelievable. Emma Bovary, AND her husband Charles, are fatally flawed...but such is the world we live in. Nobody is perfect and this novel is a testament to the fact.
This is a quick read, and again, it is, in my opinion, expertly and beautifully written. I am just miffed that I waited so long to dive into it! Highly recommended.