Importing Madame Bovary : The Politics of Adultery

After its succà ̈s de scandale in France in 1856, Flaubert's Madame Bovary traveled across Europe leaving in its wake controversy, debate and a trail of imitations and rewritings. At times, these adaptations were so close that contemporaries dismissed them as plagiarisms; yet paradoxically the same novels achieved canonical status in their national traditions. This study traces Madame Bovary 's journey abroad and seeks to understand why the novel was imported and given such import in foreign literatures. It shows how the French masterpiece became the centerpiece of a transnational reflection on political history and particularly the problem of revolution. In the process, Amann examines how the rewritings offer clues for reinterpreting Flaubert's work and the adultery novel as a genre. After Its Succ̈es De Scandale In France In 1856, Flaubert's Madame Bovary Traveled Across Europe Leaving In Its Wake Controversy, Debate And A Trail Of Imitations And Rewritings. At Times, These Adaptations Were So Close That Contemporaries Dismissed Them As Plagiarisms; Yet Paradoxically The Same Novels Achieved Canonical Status In Their National Traditions. This Study Traces Madame Bovary's Journey Abroad And Seeks To Understand Why The Novel Was Imported And Given Such Import In Foreign Literatures. It Shows How The French Masterpiece Became The Centerpiece Of A Transnational Reflection On Political History And Particularly The Problem Of Revolution. In The Process, Amann Examines How The Rewritings Offer Clues For Reinterpreting Flaubert's Work And The Adultery Novel As A Genre. Exhuming Marguerite Gautier -- An Unbridled Bride -- A Marriage Sans-culotte -- On Tour -- Grafting. Elizabeth Amann. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [257]-265) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Table of Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 8 1 Exhuming Marguerite Gautier......Page 22 2 An Unbridled Bride......Page 72 3 A Marriage Sans-culotte?......Page 102 4 On Tour......Page 132 5 Grafting......Page 182 Epilogue......Page 222 Acknowledgments......Page 246 Notes......Page 248 Bibliography......Page 264 After its succès de scandale in France in 1856, Flaubert's Madame Bovary was widely adapted, sometimes so closely they were dismissed as plagiarism yet they achieved canonical status in their national traditions. This study traces Madame Bovary's journey abroad and asks why the novel was given such import in foreign literatures. After its succes de scandale in France in 1856, Flaubert's Madame Bovary was widely adapted, sometimes so closely they were dismissed as plagiarism yet they achieved canonical status in their national traditions. This study traces Madame Bovary's journey abroad and asks why the novel was given such import in foreign literatures. Written by a specialist in the field of European literature from the 19th century who has taught at Yale and Columbia, this book is a fascinating sutdy of a canonical text and how it translates internationally