Review: MADAME BOVARY, well well well

MADAME BOVARY by Gustav Flaubert, my copy is from the Everyman's Library and was printed in 1993. It was originally published in the Everyman's Library in1928. Gustav Flaubert finished writing his novel in April 1856, but it was used in installments in the La Revue de Paris, (page xxx in the Everyman's Library). Also on this page is the notice that Flaubert, his editor and printer were acquitted for offending public morality and Religion in 1857. Wow, talk about a change in morals.

My last blog talked about the fact that Madame Bovary, was pensive, bemoaning her fate for marrying a man she clearly did not love and wanting to be rescued by some handsome prince. I made a comment about her never really leaving her house so how could she go after what she wanted. Two pages later, she is pursued by Monsieur Rodolphe Boulanger. He recognizes that she is a bored and pretty housewife and means to compromise her and make her his. She is resistant at first and then ....
But he is not really in love and the greatest scene is him dumping out all his love letters and trinkets and realizing that she is no different than the other woman he has lead on. Then she turns her attention to Leon after being dumped. In addition, she is being maneuvered to spend money, and more money at the dry goods store, taking out debits that amount to 8000 francs, when the dry goods man wants to collect. Her life is turned upside down. She manages to ruin everyone she is connected to, or at least tries to and fails in some instances.

This is the second book about adultery that I have read, the first the SCARLET LETTER, showed remorse and it was assumed that her husband had died at sea. In both books the woman were not in love with their husbands. In MADAME BOVARY, we have a blatant disregard for husband and her daughter. She had no redeeming qualities. Though both had daughters, Hester was a loving mother, even though she did not understand her daughter, whereas Emma Bovary, would really have nothing to do with her daughter, having  Berthe in the care of the housekeeper after Berthe returned from living a year with a wet nurse.

Good book, too bad about the outcome for Madame, Monsieur and Berthe Bovary. There are a lot of references to the church, especially at the end. I can see why at this period in time the people thought the book was risque. It picked up steam as the book moved along and there were lovely bits of foreshadowing, especially in the method of death.

The next book is SISTER CARRIE and my book club book, THE BOOK OF TOMORROW.