Flaubert, prophet of the "new prose" which was to prove one of the most significant (and interesting) developments in twentieth century, is primarily known for Madam Bovary, a satirical look at the French rural lifestyle of the time--which, despite any of its virtues, manages only to be extremely, extremely boring. The same is true of Sentimental Education, to a lesser degree, though I find that novel quite a bit more interesting, and it came to me (indirectly) upon the rather lofty recommendation one Samuel R. Delany.
In Salammbo, finally Flaubert finds material worthy of his prose. I find that refreshing.
(The same is presumably true of The Temptation of Saint Anthony. One can only hope.)
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