Saturday, July 4, 2009
Flaubert and Salammbo
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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