Audiobooks by Gustave Flaubert

"Born on December 12, 1821, in Rouen, France, Gustave Flaubert is considered one of the greatest novelists of the nineteenth century and a central figure of literary realism. The son of a respected surgeon, he grew up in a cultivated bourgeois environment that later nourished his sharp and often critical portrayal of provincial life. Flaubert began studying law in Paris but abandoned his studies after suffering from epileptic seizures. He then devoted himself entirely to literature, pursuing an ideal of stylistic perfection. He believed in the absolute precision of language and famously searched for le mot juste—the exact word—sometimes spending days refining a single sentence. His masterpiece, Madame Bovary (1857), tells the tragic story of Emma Bovary, a woman whose romantic dreams clash with the dullness of provincial reality. The novel caused a scandal and led to a public trial for immorality, from which Flaubert was eventually acquitted. Today, it is regarded as a cornerstone of modern fiction for its psychological depth and objective narrative style. Among his other major works are Sentimental Education (1869) and Salammbô (1862), which reveal both his realism and his fascination with historical settings. A close mentor to younger writers such as Guy de Maupassant, Flaubert profoundly influenced generations of authors. He died on May 8, 1880, in Croisset. His rigorous approach to writing and his pursuit of artistic excellence left a lasting mark on world literature."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), David Barnes (Narrator)

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Classic Love Stories: A BBC Radio Drama Collection: 12 Full-Cast Dramatisations including Wuthering Heights, now a major film

"Twelve dramatisations of the best love stories ever written, performed by star casts Treat yourself to this stunning collection of classic stories of love, loss, obstacles overcome and desperate attraction. This is a beautiful, moving and at times thrilling listen which takes you on a journey through the greatest tales of romance ever told. These unmissable, dramatised novels feature stellar performances from fantastic casts including Vanessa Kirby, Hiftu Quasem, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, John Hurt and David Tennant. Anna Karenina is Leo Tolstoy's powerful drama of desire, transgression and heartache. Starring Kate Philips (Wolf Hall), Alfred Enoch (Harry Potter) and Rory Kinnear (James Bond films). Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a fantastic mix of injustice, romance, passion and danger wrapped up in a glorious love story. Starring Amanda Hale (Catastrophe) and Tom Burke (Strike). Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary is a masterpiece of betrayal and wantonness - the first great novel of adultery. Starring Sarah Smart (Wallander), Jude Akuwudike (Gangs of London) and James D’Arcy (Broadchurch) with John Hurt (Harry Potter) as the Narrator. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In a town full of hatred, where the streets ring with the Capulet-Montague feud and swords are too easily drawn, Romeo and Juliet find each other, fall in love, and never let go. Starring Trystan Gravelle (Mr Selfridge), Vanessa Kirby (Mission Impossible), David Tennant (Broadchurch) and Paul Ready (Motherland). Chéri by Colette is the story of a love affair between a courtesan and a man half her age, set in Paris before the First World War. Starring Frances Barber (Silk) and Joseph Millson (The Last Kingdom) with Lindsay Duncan (Birdman) as the Narrator. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen remains one of the world’s favourite novels, dealing with the timeless issues of love, social class and money with a witty, clever - though flawed - heroine at its heart. Starring Pippa Nixon (Unforgotten), Jamie Parker (The Crown) and Toby Jones (The Detectorists). The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni is an icon of Italian literature: the story of two lovers who want nothing more than to marry but are beset by the hazards of war, bread riots and the machinations of a nameless crime lord. Starring Hiftu Quasem (Killing Eve) and Ian Dunnett Jnr (Masters of the Air). The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, written in 1928, is a pioneering novel about love and attraction between women. Starring Valerie Edmond as the enigmatic Stephen. Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's iconic love story. Heathcliff and Cathy's love is the beating heart of the story, set against the backdrop of the bleak Yorkshire moors. Starring Chloe Pirrie (Temple) and Ben Batt (Shameless). North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell explores social conscience, ideological difference and love in a mill town in the 1800s. Starring Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love) and David Threlfall (Shameless). The Age of Innocence is Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a passionate life-long love affair which breaks all the rules of the restrictive high society of 1870's New York. Starring Susan Lynch (Happy Valley) and Kellie Bright (Eastenders). Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy is a story of the belief in true romance and the power of money and love. Starring Alex Tregear (Silk: The Clerk’s Room), Toby Jones (The Detectorists) and Patrick Kennedy (Boardwalk Empire). This stunning collection is packed with the best romance stories written in the last 500 years – a fully dramatised, unmissable listen featuring some of the biggest names of stage and screen. ©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Alessandro Manzoni, Charlotte Brönte, Colette Avital, Edith Wharton, Elizabeth Gaskell, Emily Brönte, Gustave Flaubert, Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, Radclyffe Hall, Thomas Hardy, William Shakespeare (Author), David Tennant, Full Cast, John Hurt, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, Tom Burke, Vanessa Kirby (Narrator)

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Madame Bovary

"'Love, she thought, must come suddenly, with great outbursts and lightnings – a hurricane of the skies, which falls upon life, revolutionizes it, roots up the will like a leaf, and sweeps the whole heart into the abyss.' A powerful critique of romantic idealism, Madame Bovary is Flaubert's most famous work. Although controversial at the time of publication due to its 'obscenity', the novel became a bestseller, and is considered a masterpiece to this day. First serialised in 1856, the novel follows the narrative of Emma Bovary, a beautiful yet naïve young woman living in rural France. Her husband, a kind-hearted physician, is committed to his wife, but Emma soon grows listless and dissatisfied with the provincial life he has provided her with. Yearning for passion, excitement and luxury, Emma daringly engages in various affairs, while accumulating enormous debt as she attempts to live a life beyond her means. A moving and tragic tale of misguided idealism, materialism and the bourgeois lifestyle – conveyed through Flaubert's heartbreakingly detached prose – Madame Bovary is an exemplary example of classic realism. This audiobook edition is brilliantly read by Georginia Sutton. Gustave Flaubert (1821 – 1880) was a French novelist, famed for being a leading proponent of literary realism. He is renowned for his debut novel, Madame Bovary, and his meticulous approach to writing. Flaubert influenced many key writers in the twentieth century, such as James Joyce and Marcel Proust, and is still widely read today."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), Georgina Sutton (Narrator)

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Madame Bovary - Audiobook

"Madame Bovary follows the tragic life of Emma Bovary, a young woman who yearns for romance, beauty, and excitement beyond the dull routines of provincial life. Trapped in a mundane marriage to a kind but unimaginative country doctor, Emma seeks escape through romantic affairs and reckless spending. Gustave Flaubert's masterpiece is a biting critique of bourgeois values and a psychologically rich portrayal of a woman driven by dreams and desires she can never fully satisfy. With its elegant prose and pioneering realism, Madame Bovary remains one of the most influential novels in literary history."

Classic Audiobooks, Gustave Flaubert (Author), Sophie Bennet (Narrator)

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[French] - Un cœur simple

"Un Cœur simple raconte la vie de Félicité, une servante dévouée, à travers ses luttes et ses espoirs dans la petite ville de Pont-l'Évêque. Depuis son enfance marquée par la perte et l'abandon, elle se consacre à sa maîtresse, Madame Aubain, et à ses deux enfants, Paul et Virginie. Sa vie est une série de sacrifices et d’épreuves, mais également de moments de tendresse et de dévotion. Félicité, bien que souvent ignorée et méprisée, trouve une forme de bonheur dans son travail et sa foi. Elle noue une relation touchante avec un perroquet, Loulou, qui devient le symbole de son amour inconditionnel. À travers des scènes émouvantes et des réflexions profondes sur la solitude et la simplicité, Flaubert dépeint un portrait poignant de la vie d'une femme dont le cœur, bien que simple, est rempli d'une grande richesse émotionnelle. Plongez dans cette œuvre touchante et découvrez la beauté des petites choses à travers les yeux d'une âme généreuse et résiliente. Un récit qui résonne avec la profondeur de l'humanité, parfait pour une écoute captivante en livre audio."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), Jean-Pierre Venaissin (Narrator)

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[German] - Frau Bovary - Hörbuch Klassiker

"Verhängnisvolle Träume, tödliche Sehnsucht, stille Rebellion in seidenen Kleidern. Madame Bovary – Ein Roman über die Träume einer Frau, die zu viel vom Leben wollte. Emma Bovary, gefangen in der Enge einer provinziellen Ehe, sehnt sich nach Leidenschaft, Luxus und einem Leben jenseits des Alltäglichen. Ihre Fluchten in Affären und Schulden geraten bald außer Kontrolle – mit tragischen Konsequenzen. Gustave Flauberts Meisterwerk der literarischen Psychologie bleibt eine unerbittlich scharfe Analyse von Illusion, Begehren und Selbstzerstörung."

Gustave Flaubert, Hörbuch Klassiker (Author), David Schmidt (Narrator)

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A Simple Heart

"She lived in the shadow of others—quietly, dutifully, without question. Her world was small: a kitchen hearth, the rhythm of chores, a parrot who would outlive most dreams. But in that stillness, something vast took root. A devotion so complete, it blurred the line between the sacred and the simple. This story doesn't shout. It listens. It watches. It waits. And by the time it's done, you'll understand how the softest hearts carry the heaviest truths."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), Peter Coates (Narrator)

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Sentimental Education: The History of a Young Man

"'Sentimental Education: The History of a Young Man' by Gustave Flaubert is a poignant exploration of love, ambition, and disillusionment in 19th-century France. The novel follows Frédéric Moreau, a young man navigating the complexities of life, romance, and societal expectations. Torn between his idealized love for the married Madame Arnoux and his restless pursuit of success, Frédéric’s journey reflects the turmoil of an era marked by political upheaval and social change. Flaubert masterfully captures the tension between youthful dreams and harsh realities, blending personal struggles with historical events like the 1848 Revolution. A profound critique of bourgeois society, the novel examines the ambiguities of human desires and the often unfulfilled quest for meaning and fulfillment."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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Salammbo

"'Salammbo' by Gustave Flaubert is a lush, exotic tale set in ancient Carthage during the Mercenary Revolt. The story revolves around Salammbo, the daughter of Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca, and Matho, a rebel leader who becomes obsessed with her. Flaubert paints a vivid picture of opulence, war, and religious fervor, blending grandeur with visceral detail. Themes of passion, betrayal, and the clash of civilizations drive the narrative as Salammbo embarks on a perilous mission to reclaim a sacred veil. Rich in sensory imagery and historical depth, the novel explores the tension between spirituality and earthly desires. A masterpiece of literary realism, it immerses readers in a world of beauty, brutality, and doomed love."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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Herodias

"'Herodias' by Gustave Flaubert is a vivid retelling of the biblical story of Salome and the execution of John the Baptist, set against the backdrop of Roman-occupied Judea. Flaubert intricately details the political and religious tensions of the era, focusing on Herodias, the ambitious and vengeful wife of Herod Antipas. Her manipulative schemes lead to the infamous dance of Salome and the tragic beheading of the prophet. With rich historical detail and psychological depth, Flaubert explores themes of power, revenge, and moral corruption. A masterful blend of drama and realism, 'Herodias' delves into the opulence and brutality of the ancient world, offering a timeless reflection on human ambition and the consequences of unchecked desire."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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The Temptation of St. Antony: A Revelation of the Soul

"'The Temptation of St. Antony' by Gustave Flaubert is a visionary exploration of faith, doubt, and the human psyche. The story follows St. Antony, a hermit in the desert, as he endures a night of supernatural trials and temptations orchestrated by demonic visions. Flaubert delves into Antony’s inner struggles, confronting themes of desire, despair, and the search for divine truth. Through vivid imagery and philosophical depth, the work examines the tension between earthly passions and spiritual devotion. A blend of mysticism and existential inquiry, it reflects Flaubert’s fascination with the complexities of belief and the soul’s resilience. This poetic masterpiece challenges readers to ponder the boundaries of faith and the eternal battle between good and evil."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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A Simple Soul

"'A Simple Soul' by Gustave Flaubert is a poignant novella that tells the story of Félicité, a humble and selfless servant whose life unfolds in quiet devotion. Overlooked by society, she finds purpose in caring for her employer’s family, enduring personal losses with unwavering resilience. Her deep longing for connection and meaning leads her to form an emotional bond with a parrot, which becomes a symbol of her faith and love after its death. Flaubert masterfully portrays themes of simplicity, sacrifice, and the search for transcendence, blending subtle irony with profound empathy. A meditation on the dignity of ordinary lives, this work captures the beauty and sorrow of unacknowledged humanity, celebrating the quiet heroism of those who live without recognition."

Gustave Flaubert (Author), Eloise Fairfax (Narrator)

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Audiobooks by Gustave Flaubert

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