Madame Bovary - Masters of the Word

Madame Bovary is a realistic novel from 1857 and is the author's first work. Flaubert's inspiration for the book came from a mention in a newspaper of the time about a country doctor's wife who had poisoned herself and whose death was preceded by marital drama. The protagonist of the novel is Emma Bovary, who marries a country doctor, and enters into the marriage with a lot of ideals, which she has picked up mainly from reading romantic books. Over time, she discovers that her romantic notions are very far from real life. Emma manages to find the passion and love she dreamed of in the arms of her lovers, but her enjoyment of her lover's love is short-lived and results in a tragic outcome.