Madame Bovary is the story of Emma Bovary, a young woman living in a small French town in the mid-19th century. Emma is married to Charles Bovary, a dull and unambitious doctor, and is bored with her life. She dreams of a more exciting and romantic life, and begins to have affairs with two men, Rodolphe and Leon. Emma's affairs bring her financial ruin, as she spends lavishly on gifts for her lovers and on luxuries for herself. She takes out large loans to pay for her extravagances, and is unable to pay them back. Her husband is unable to help her, and she is eventually arrested for her debts. The novel follows Emma's descent into despair and her eventual death. It is a powerful exploration of the consequences of living a life of illusion and fantasy, and of the power of society to shape and control individuals.
By Gustave Flaubert · First published 1857 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Tragedy · 35 chapters