Three Tales

This trio of short stories by the author of Madame Bovary were the last of Flaubert's works published in his lifetime, and their ambitious range reaches from the 19th century back to the Middle Ages and to ancient Israel. "A Simple Heart," in Flaubert's own words, "is just the account of an obscure life, that of Félicité a poor country girl, pious but mystical, quietly devoted, and as tender as fresh bread." "The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller" concerns a hunter and warrior whose attempts to escape dire prophecy ultimately lead to a state of grace. "Herodias," based on the legends surrounding King Herod, Salome, and John the Baptist, served as the inspiration for later interpretations by Oscar Wilde and Jules Massenet. Translated by Arthur McDowall.