Three Tales
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Summary
Editor's review
In the editor's view, this work is an exquisite key to Flaubert's literary world. Compared with the vast bulk of Madame Bovary or Sentimental Education, Three Tales is compact, yet it displays to the fullest the author's almost ruthless pursuit of language, his precise capture of detail, and his artistic ideal of "impersonal" expression of emotion. "A Simple Heart" is the crowning piece: in plain yet powerful strokes Flaubert portrays the ordinary, devoted life of the servant girl Félicité, elevating "simplicity" to a profoundly moving plane; many critics regard it as the peak of his short fiction.
The value of reading this book lies not only in savoring the exemplary beauty of French prose in syntax, rhythm, and vocabulary (the Chinese translation does its utmost to convey this style), but also in seeing how Flaubert achieves a perfect union of "scientific precision" and "poetic elevation" through literature. He strips away romantic sentimentality and lets the story and the characters' actions speak for themselves; behind this austerity lies a deeper compassion and insight into the human condition. For readers who wish to understand the origins of modern narrative and deepen their appreciation of literature, this is an indispensable classic.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Literature lovers who wish to read classics closely and sharpen their skills in textual analysis
- Researchers and students interested in French literature, realism, and naturalism
- Aspiring writers eager to learn how a master builds narrative through detail and structure
- Readers seeking profound human insight and philosophical reflection within a short span
Not a good fit for
- Entertainment-oriented readers who want strong plot, fast pacing, and dramatic conflict
- Readers who feel alienated by, or lack patience for, religious-historical backgrounds and classical narrative modes
Reading tips
- Read in order if possible: first absorb the legendary atmosphere of "The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitator," then immerse yourself in the everyday epic of "A Simple Heart," and finally enter the historical drama of "Herodias."
- As you read, note Flaubert's plain descriptions of characters' actions and of objects in their environment, and consider how these details quietly reveal inner life and theme.
- After reading, compare the three stories in subject, style, and emotional register, and consider why Flaubert placed these "three tales" side by side and what artistic pursuit they collectively point to.
About the publisher
Shanghai Translation Publishing House is a Chinese publisher oriented mainly toward translation and publishing. Its publications cover foreign literature, world classics and classic works, as well as social culture, folk literature and classical poetry. The database contains 2,618 titles, including Never Let Me Go, Les Misérables (2 volumes), Don Quixote (illustrated collector's edition), The Complete Comedies of Molière (4 volumes), The Complete Novels of Kafka (3 volumes), The Collected Works of Dostoevsky (9-volume set), Reason and Persons, and Oedipus Rex (Translation Classics). Its author resources include foreign writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Victor Hugo, Cervantes and Molière, as well as translators such as Zheng Kelu, Sun Jiameng, Li Jianwu and Zhang Kun. The publisher has brands such as "Translation Classics Selections" and "Translation Documentary," and emphasizes translated works in foreign literature and the humanities and social sciences, while also publishing bilingual dictionaries and foreign-language educational books. Public information is limited; the above is based on the book information in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 译者序
- 慈悲·圣·朱莲的传说
- 一颗简单的心
- 希罗底
- 亲密的回忆
FAQ
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Which story is the most famous and best suited to readers new to Flaubert?
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About the author
Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880) was a master of French realist fiction, born in Rouen into a family of doctors. He never married and died at Croisset on 8 May 1880. His masterpiece Madame Bovary, published in 1857, was tried for “offending public morals” but he was acquitted; his other works include Salammbô, Sentimental Education, The Temptation of Saint Anthony, Three Tales, and the unfinished Bouvard and Pécuchet. Known for his pursuit of precise, perfect style and the “mot juste,” he is regarded as a key founder of the modern novel and deeply influenced writers such as Zola and Maupassant. His works are commonly classified under foreign literature and world classics, and this library holds 28 related titles.
Li Jianwu (1906–1982) was a Chinese writer, literary critic, translator, and drama educator from Yuncheng, Shanxi, who often wrote under the pen name Liu Xiwu. He graduated from the Department of Foreign Languages at Tsinghua University and later studied Flaubert in France. His plays, including This Is Only Spring and Liang Yunda, focus on real life, while his essay collections, such as the Juhua Ji and Juhua Erji, are noted for their sensitive artistic appreciation. As a translator, he rendered Madame Bovary and Molière's comedies, and his multi-volume collected works have had a lasting influence on the introduction of foreign literature to Chinese readers. His catalog spans foreign literature, world classics, and drama, with twenty-nine titles held in the collection, including translations and guided editions of works by Flaubert and Chekhov.
