A Study of the Correspondence of Gustave Flaubert

Gustave Flaubert, for what he represents in the world of literature, remains "a man of history" meaning one, who does not just contented simply having been thrown into the world by the adventure of birth, rises above the "herd", that he may contest the ideas of the "natural" community and break with what is happening around him. But beyond all the Flaubertien works and wide exegesis devoted to them since their publication, the Correspondence of Gustave Flaubert, is a true treasure of observations and comments (often critical) on any subject encourage us to undertake a study on the art of epistolary in his Correspondence. We were surprised to read letters of such incredible sincerity, combined, unlike his novels, with a complete lack of concern for the standards of the literary art. The letters of Flaubert are incredible by their density of idea, beyond the usual frameworks of the daily ratings. It is a dialogue with a wide variety of recipients as in the case of Voltaire, who is the congener spirit of Flaubert a century apart. Flaubert did not want to explain nor demonstrate anything. He has brought neither intelligence nor any solutions and learned posterity to appreciate his abilities.