One of the greatest novels ever written! Gustave Flaubert is arguably one of the greatest novelists of all time. His first novel, Madame Bovary, was published in 1856 and is considered a literary masterpiece by critics and scholars. His skillful wordsmithing combined with the scandal surrounding the novel launched it into notoriety. The story focuses on a doctor’s wife, Emma, a tragic heroine who attempts to escape her boring provincial life by having multiple affairs and living beyond her means. Madame Bovary is a terrific example of Gustave Flaubert’s determination and his execution of capturing the details of modern realism.