MADAME BOVARY (ARCTURUS ORNATE CLASSICS)

The publication of Madame Bovary in 1857 caused a sensation, even leading to an obscenity trial that ultimately ended in Flaubert’s acquittal. At its centre is Emma Bovary, one of literature’s most memorable characters and a sharp critique of the complacent French bourgeoisie that Flaubert so deeply disliked. Trapped in an unfulfilling marriage to a provincial doctor, Emma escapes into romantic fantasies shaped by sentimental novels. Her longing for passion, beauty and sophistication draws her into reckless affairs that promise excitement but ultimately carry devastating consequences.