Sentimental Education is a novel by Gustave Flaubert, first published in 1869. It tells the story of Frédéric Moreau, a young man of 19 who is coming of age in the tumultuous period of the French Revolution of 1848. Frédéric is a romantic idealist, and his story follows his journey of self-discovery as he moves from Paris to the provinces and back again. Along the way, he experiences a series of romantic entanglements, including a passionate affair with the married Madame Arnoux. He also meets a variety of characters, including the ambitious and unscrupulous Dambreuse, the idealistic Deslauriers, and the mysterious Rosanette. The novel is a study of the effects of the French Revolution on the lives of the French people, and of the moral and social changes that occurred during this period. It is also a meditation on the nature of love, and on the power of sentiment and emotion to shape our lives.
By Gustave Flaubert · First published 1869 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 20 chapters