The Life-Work of Flaubert, from the Russian of Merejowski

Delving into the tangled relationship between talent and temperament, this study examines how the relentless pursuit of beauty can shape, and sometimes erode, the personal lives of great artists. Using vivid illustrations—from ancient myths to the day‑to‑day struggles of a 19th‑century novelist—it asks why many brilliant creators appear as distant observers, withdrawing from ordinary concerns to feed their imagination. The author draws on contemporary criticism and personal letters to reveal the inner tension that propelled Flaubert’s meticulous craft while pulling him away from conventional morality.

The first part of the book traces the early formation of Flaubert’s artistic sensibility, showing how his sharp eye for detail and his yearning for aesthetic perfection set the stage for his later masterpieces. It also explores the cultural expectations of his era, highlighting the clash between his private doubts and the public demands placed on a literary genius. Readers come away with a nuanced portrait of a writer whose brilliance was both a gift and a burden, inviting reflection on the cost of creative obsession.