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A review by robertpeterson
Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert
5.0
In Sentimental Education, Flaubert set out to write a generational novel, and he succeeded. What he probably didn’t know was that it holds up for future generations as well.
Featuring Frederic, the nice guy trope who isn’t nice after all (back when it couldn’t possibly be a trope), the plot is basically a young man chasing after an older, married woman he’s in love with, without doing any chasing. Because he belongs to one of my favorite categories: the doomed, inept character. His best friend, Deslauriers, is just the same, except he’s chasing something different. Often, their paths clash and they should by all rights hate each other, but they keep coming back together because they can’t stand for anything, like they can’t succeed in anything they (barely) set out to do.
I personally rooted for Frederic during the first two acts, still somewhat charmed by his naivety and his outstanding lack of self-awareness; and at least his love for Madame Arnoux seemed genuine, despite his inability to make it known to her, and his poor decisions that only bring her closer to her husband. But toward the end I found myself slowly giving up on him, not trusting him anymore, as it became clear he’s rather selfish and shallow—and a bit of sociopath—whilst still feeling bad for him.
If you like a coming-of-age story where the protagonist only screws up his life more every year, where he drags you down the bad turns he takes, where his love is not only unattainable, but it also appears more ridiculous as you read on, and where whether you ultimately feel bad for him or laugh at him along with the other characters is up to you, then you’ll like this book.
I should mention this story is told through some of the most stunning prose I’ve ever read—it’s Flaubert we’re talking about, after all. Somewhere inside the triangle of Realism, Romanticism, and Psychological. Some passages had me in awe, almost as much as Proust, and made me want to finally read Madame Bovary. French literature is quickly becoming my favorite. Oh, also, there’s the revolution of 1848 happening in the background; that plays a funny role. If you like Historical elements, there’s plenty here.
Featuring Frederic, the nice guy trope who isn’t nice after all (back when it couldn’t possibly be a trope), the plot is basically a young man chasing after an older, married woman he’s in love with, without doing any chasing. Because he belongs to one of my favorite categories: the doomed, inept character. His best friend, Deslauriers, is just the same, except he’s chasing something different. Often, their paths clash and they should by all rights hate each other, but they keep coming back together because they can’t stand for anything, like they can’t succeed in anything they (barely) set out to do.
I personally rooted for Frederic during the first two acts, still somewhat charmed by his naivety and his outstanding lack of self-awareness; and at least his love for Madame Arnoux seemed genuine, despite his inability to make it known to her, and his poor decisions that only bring her closer to her husband. But toward the end I found myself slowly giving up on him, not trusting him anymore, as it became clear he’s rather selfish and shallow—and a bit of sociopath—whilst still feeling bad for him.
If you like a coming-of-age story where the protagonist only screws up his life more every year, where he drags you down the bad turns he takes, where his love is not only unattainable, but it also appears more ridiculous as you read on, and where whether you ultimately feel bad for him or laugh at him along with the other characters is up to you, then you’ll like this book.
I should mention this story is told through some of the most stunning prose I’ve ever read—it’s Flaubert we’re talking about, after all. Somewhere inside the triangle of Realism, Romanticism, and Psychological. Some passages had me in awe, almost as much as Proust, and made me want to finally read Madame Bovary. French literature is quickly becoming my favorite. Oh, also, there’s the revolution of 1848 happening in the background; that plays a funny role. If you like Historical elements, there’s plenty here.