Madame Bovary

By: Gustave Flaubert

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

In Madame Bovary, one of the great novels of 19th-century France, Flaubert draws a deeply felt and sympathetic portrait of a woman who, having married a country doctor and found herself unhappy with a rural, genteel existence, longs for love and excitement. However, her aspirations and her desires to escape only bring her further disappointment and eventually lead to unexpected, painful consequences. Flaubert’s critical portrait of bourgeois provincial life remains as powerful as ever.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2014 Naxos AudioBooks

Flaubert Brings You Into the Novel

Flaubert has that gift of writing that takes you into the novel. He and Tolstoy are the best at it. This is one of the best books I've ever listened to. The narrator is excellent and is a perfect fit for the book. I may listen to it again.

unlikable characters who still inspire sympathy

Rating this one is hard -- I was leaning toward 5 stars for several days, but when I think of some of my other 5 star reads this one comes in slightly lower. So there you go: 4+ stars.

This book really made me think about some things that I didn't expect to think about. Flaubert's Emma is unique. She is not often likable. She is flighty, selfish, proud and even arrogant. But in my interpretation of the story she seems to have issues with Depression and maybe Postpartum Depression. And, I feel like Emma was in a tight little box due to societal constraints. She struggles so violently that she injures herself. Emma's extramarital affairs must have made this book a sensational and shocking story.

EXCELLENT!

This was a wonderful read. I will seek more books by Gustave Flaubert! It is a vacation into another world and another time.

Wonderful classic story, well told

The story takes a long time to set up. I almost gave up at the halfway point. However, when the action begins it is a roller coaster to the end. Juliette Stevenson is excellent, as usual.

Excellent narrator, beautiful writing

Would you listen to Madame Bovary again? Why?

Yes, parts.

Which character – as performed by Juliet Stevenson – was your favorite?

Juliet Stevenson is such an excellent narrator. Her readings are at a perfect pace and her character interpretations are always wonderful. Ms. Stevenson's understanding of the text and intelligence make listening a joy. I become so lost in the characters she portrays that I forget it is one person reading! Can't say Emma Bovary is a favorite character, but her self-centeredness and vacuousness come through in the dialogue as read by the narrator.

Any additional comments?

I can understand why this novel is so well known. The writing (and this translation) draw you in. But the characters are not sympathetic and I don't understand why Emma Bovary is so empty and why she expresses no remorse at the end of the novel. I feel for her clueless husband and especially for her daughter Berthe.