…and the novel by Gustav Flaubert, the story of a law student in Paris, who is infatuated with an older married woman, is now on my top ten list of great books.
In 1864, while writing Sentimental Education, his last novel, Gustave Flaubert wrote:
"I want to write the moral history of the men of my generation– or, more accurately, the history of their feelings. It's a book about love, about passion; but passion such as can exist nowadays– that is to say, inactive."
And remember Woody Allen's narration in Manhattan? Sentimental Education is the only book he mentions in his list of things that make life worth living:
"Well, all right, why is life worth living? That's a very good question. Well, there are certain things, I guess, that make it worthwhile. Uh, like what? Okay. Um, for me… oh, I would say… what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing… um… and Willie Mays, and, um, the second movement of the Jupiter Symphony, and um… Louis Armstrong's recording of 'Potatohead Blues', …um, Swedish movies, naturally… 'Sentimental Education' by Flaubert… Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra… um, those incredible apples and pears by Cezanne, …the crabs at Sam Wo's… Tracy's face…"
Here is a passage from the book that I loved.
"Besides, she was approaching the August of a woman's life, a period which combines reflection and tenderness, when the maturity which is beginning kindles a warmer flame in the eyes, when strength of heart mingles with experience of life, and when, in the fullness of its development, the whole being overflows with a wealth of harmony and beauty. She had never been gentler or more indulgent. Sure that she was not going to falter, she gave herself up to a feeling which struck her as a right she had earned by her sorrows."
There are many great passages in this book, which is a sweeping blend of love story, history and satire.
Wow. Are you reading Sohn’s book on the same vacation for a “compare and contrast”?!