
Set in the quiet French countryside of the 19th century, the story follows a young woman raised on romantic novels and lofty dreams. She marries a modest country doctor, hoping that marriage will fulfill her fantasies, but the routine of provincial life quickly feels confining. As she navigates the expectations of a small town, her inner yearning for excitement and beauty begins to surface.
Unable to find satisfaction in her domestic role, she turns to the world of high society, fashionable salons, and fleeting romances, seeking the passion that her marriage lacks. These escapades pull her further from the stability of her husband’s world, creating a tension between desire and duty. The narrative captures her inner conflict with vivid detail, offering a poignant look at the costs of longing for an ideal that reality refuses to deliver.
Language
en
Duration
~11 hours (648K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2006-02-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1821–1880
Best known for Madame Bovary, he helped define literary realism with fiction that is sharp, unsentimental, and deeply attentive to everyday life. His work is still admired for its precision, emotional force, and refusal to look away from uncomfortable truths.
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