DescriptionAhead of its time, Flaubert's exploration of the passions of an unfulfilled wife ranks as one of the great novels of the 19th Century.
DescriptionThis exquisite novel tells the story of one of the most compelling heroines in modern literature, Emma Bovary. Unhappily married to a devoted, clumsy, provincial doctor, Emma revolts against the ordinariness of her life by pursuing voluptuous dreams of wealth, ecstasy and love. But her sensuous and sentimental desires lead her only to suffering, corruption, and downfall. A brilliant psychological portrait, Madame Bovary searingly depicts the human mind in search of transcendence. Who is Madame Bovary? Flaubert's answer to this question was superb: "Madame Bovary, c'est moi." Acclaimed as a masterpiece upon its publication in 1857, the novel catapulted Flaubert to the ranks of the world's greatest writers.
DescriptionWealthy American widower Adam Verver and his daughter Maggie live in Europe, where they collect art and relish each other's company. Through the efforts of the manipulative Fanny Assingham, Maggie becomes engaged to Amerigo, an Italian prince in reduced circumstances, but remains blind to his rekindled affair with her longtime friend Charlotte Stant. Maggie and Amerigo marry, and later, after Charlotte and Adam have also wed, both spouses learn of the ongoing affair, though neither seeks a confrontation. Not until Maggie buys the gilded crystal bowl of the title as a birthday present for Adam does truth crack the veneer of propriety. First published in 1904.
DescriptionNovelist and scholar Freddie Lee Johnson III is widely acclaimed for his gritty, dramatic stories and careful attention to issues of race. With Other Men's Wives, Johnson creates a powerful novel of love, lust, and deception. Denmark Wheeler survived a rough childhood on the streets of Cleveland to prosper as an adult. Then one day a DVD turns up on his front doorstep, revealing an explicit sexual encounter between his wife and a man whose face is concealed. Consumed by rage, he searches for the other man.
DescriptionEmma Bovary is not content to be the mere dutiful wife of a French country doctor. She yearns for excitement and a sense of romance that pulls at her so strongly she is powerless to resist, even though pursuing her dreams will exact a terrible price. Learn why Gustave Flaubert's compelling heroine has enchanted and puzzled readers for centuries.
