Gustave Flaubert

Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880) was a French writer and a major figure of European realism. He studied law in Paris but abandoned his studies after an epileptic seizure and devoted himself primarily to writing. Flaubert was known for his stylistic perfectionism and his pursuit of the “right word.” His novel *Madame Bovary* was published in 1856 and led to a trial for alleged immorality; he was acquitted in 1857. His other important works include *Salammbô*, *Sentimental Education*, and the unfinished novel *Bouvard et Pécuchet*.