The novel follows the lives of two friends, Bouvard and Pecuchet, who attempt to live according to various philosophical and scientific theories they have read about. They try out different lifestyles, from vegetarianism to socialism, but their efforts are marked by ineptitude and failure. As they move through various phases, they become increasingly eccentric and detached from reality. Their attempts at reforming themselves and others lead to chaos and destruction around them. The novel is a satirical commentary on the excesses of Romanticism and the intellectual pretensions of the bourgeoisie. It explores themes of identity, morality, and the search for meaning in life. Through Bouvard and Pecuchet's misadventures, the novel critiques the notion that one can achieve happiness and fulfillment through the adoption of abstract ideas or philosophical systems.
By Gustave Flaubert · First published 1874 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Philosophical Fiction · 2 chapters