Gustave Flaubert | Brief Biography
Gustave Flaubert | Brief Biography
Gustave Flaubert (December 12, 1821 – May 8, 1880) was a French novelist and playwright considered one of the greatest Western literary figures of all time. He is best known for his novel “Madame Bovary,” a masterpiece of realism that remains one of the most important works of French literature.
Early Life
Gustave Flaubert was born in Rouen, France, to a wealthy and cultured family. His father was a prominent physician and his mother was well-educated and passionate about the arts. As a child, Flaubert was fascinated by the world of books and spent much of his time reading and writing. He received an excellent education, attending a prestigious high school in Rouen before studying law in Paris. However, he quickly realized that law was not his calling and dropped out of school to pursue his true passion: literature.
Writing Career
Flaubert’s writing career began in the mid-1840s, and he quickly gained recognition for his talent and style. His first major work, “Madame Bovary,” was published in 1857 and was met with both critical acclaim and controversy. The novel tells the story of Emma Bovary, a bored and unhappy housewife who embarks on a series of affairs in an attempt to escape her mundane life. The book was celebrated for its vivid characters and its detailed and realistic portrayal of rural France, but it was also criticized for its explicit content and its negative portrayal of the bourgeoisie. Despite this, “Madame Bovary” established Flaubert as a major literary figure and remains one of his most famous and enduring works.
In addition to “Madame Bovary,” Flaubert wrote several other novels, including “Sentimental Education” (1869) and “A Simple Heart” (1877). He also wrote several plays, including “The Temptation of Saint Anthony” (1874) and “Herodias” (1877), as well as a number of short stories and letters. Throughout his career, Flaubert was renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and his devotion to craft. He was a meticulous reviser, often spending months or even years perfecting a single sentence or passage.
Personal Life
Flaubert lived a relatively quiet and solitary life, spending much of his time traveling and writing. He was known for his close relationships with several women, including his lifelong companion, the writer Louise Colet, and his cousin and muse, Caroline Commanville. Despite his close relationships with women, Flaubert never married and remained single throughout his life.
Later Years and Death
In his later years, Flaubert suffered from various health problems, including epilepsy, which made it difficult for him to work and travel. Despite this, he remained productive and continued to write until his death in 1880. He died at the age of 58 and was interred in the Cimetière de Montmartre in Paris.
Legacy
Gustave Flaubert remains one of the greatest literary figures of all time and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the realist movement in literature. His work, particularly “Madame Bovary,” continues to be widely read and studied and has had a profound impact on French and world literature. 0 0 0.
Sources:
“Gustave Flaubert.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Gustave-Flaubert.
“Gustave Flaubert.” The Literature Network, www.online-literature.com/flaubert/. ***
N.B. The article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Biographies of Writers Around the World‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
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