When Crimes of Passion Were All the Fashion

Frederic Moreau comes of age in 1840s Paris. Given to flowery fancies of romance, he falls "in love" with Madame Arnoux, a lady at least a decade his senior, and becomes frustrated with the failed revolution of 1848, a Parisian fiasco. Flaubert said he set out to write a "moral history of the men of [his] generation...the history of their feelings... a book about love, about passion... inactive."

I enjoyed the book not so much for the love on verge of coital, a story line that lost its steam about halfway through the novel, but for its lampooning of a decadent, egocentric French society filled with superficial characters given to whimsy, such as the banker Dambreuse, "a man so habituated to corruption that he would happily pay for the pleasure of selling himself." C. Hitchens, “The Rat That Roared,” Wall Street Journal, 2/06/03.

I found Madame Bovary's abbreviated life much more compelling and revelatory than Monsieur Moreau's romantic adventures in pursuit of Madame Arnoux.

4 people found this helpful

Good, needs historical context

This is a remarkably well written book with depth and commentary which will probably take several successive readings for me to parse out. It feels very modern while also painting a very vivid picture of 19th century Paris. You may want to brush up on your French history before tackling this book. It takes place during the years leading up to the February Revolution in 1848.

Flaubert said he wanted to write a moral history of the men of his generation. As he said, "It's a book about love, about passion; but passion such as can exist nowadays--that is to say, inactive." I couldn't say it better myself.

1 person found this helpful

First Flaubert

A beautiful and melancholic story about a wandering young man in search of meaning through the boring and exciting events of day to day life. This was my first book by Flaubert and I will definitely try some more of his work.
RemInded me of Jung’s theory of a man’s relationship with his “anima”.
Also one of the best narrations I’ve heard!

An outstanding performance

The narrator was extraordinarily good. I really enjoyed his rendering. Thanks a lot, Michael Maloney

brilliant narration! very good.

the only thing is that the narration is not entirly synced with the kindle version

Tedious

Normally I like to get my teeth into a 'big' book, but not this time. Far too much rather boring detail of the pathetic emotional career of one of life's losers

2 people found this helpful