Salammbo

by Gustave Flaubert

Overview

An epic story combining lust, cruelty, riches, ritual and sensuality, few French historical novels can stand comparison with Salammbo.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9782070308781
Publisher:	Gallimard Education
Publication date:	06/01/2005
Series:	Folio (Gallimard)
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	530
Product dimensions:	4.20(w) x 6.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Language:	French

About the Author

Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880) was a French novelist who was best known for exploring realism in his work. Hailing from an upper-class family, Flaubert was exposed to literature at an early age. He received a formal education at Lycée Pierre-Corneille, before venturing to Paris to study law. A serious illness forced him to change his career path, reigniting his passion for writing. He completed his first novella, November, in 1842, launching a decade-spanning career. His most notable work, Madame Bovary was published in 1856 and is considered a literary masterpiece.

Editorial Reviews

01/14/2019

Druillet offers a new science-fictional take on Flaubert’s 1862 protoheroic story involving the Punic Wars, creating a staggeringly vibrant but roundabout tale. In a cosmic landscape, Sloane betrays and kills his own crew aboard his space ship while looking for his friend Yearl. Sloane then finds himself in Carthage, hoping to conquer it after glimpsing the face of the beautiful Salammbô, sacred virgin of the city. After interrupting a feast where Salammbô is present, Sloane becomes involved in a war between unpaid mercenaries and their employers in Carthage that ultimately leads to both his and Salammbô’s deaths. But the returning Yearl promises future resurrection. Despite Druillet’s eye-catching use of high-contrast colors and masterfully intricate line work, the story is unfortunately marred by wordiness and excesses of world-building. The intricacy of Flaubert’s original plot is lost and often unreadable due to the sheer volume of information and needless story components. Though visually stunning, this book ends up at war over the importance of detail and accessibility. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"Druillet offers a new science-fictional take on Flaubert’s 1862 protoheroic story ... staggeringly vibrant " - Publisher's Weekly"

"Quite spectacular ... an interesting and sometimes unexpected reimagining of Flaubert’s story. Five stars" - NB Magazine

"Absolutely stunning to behold ... page after page of beautiful madness, obsessively detailed, gargantuan in proportion — a divine piece of delirium that should be required reading for all comics enthusiasts"- Bookgasm

From the Publisher