Sentimental Education (1869) was Flaubert's last novel published during his lifetime, and is considered one of the most influential 19th century novels.

Plot

Describes the life of a young man (Frederic Moreau) living through the revolution of 1848 and the founding of the Second French Empire, and his love for an older woman. Flaubert based many of the protagonist's experiences (including the romantic passion) on his own life. He wrote of the work in 1864

"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."

The novel's tone is extremely ironic and pessimistic, lampooning French society in Flaubert's typical style.

Sequence of appearances

Here is a list of characters and their first appearances in Sentimental Education as found here (the page numbers refer to the Penguin edition.)

• Frédéric Moreau, the "hero" (15)
• Jacques Arnoux, publisher, porcelain manufacturer (16)
• Mme [Marie] Arnoux (18)
• Marthe Arnoux, their daughter (19)
• M. Roque, land-owner (23)
• Louise Roque, his daughter (23)
• Charles Deslauriers, law student (24)
• M. Dambreuse, banker (24)
• Mme Dambreuse (31)
• Baptiste Martinon, law student (33)
• Marquis de Cisy, nobleman and law student (34)
• Sénécal, math teacher and Republican (36)
• Dussardier, shop worker (41)
• Hussonet, journalist (introduced without name on 38, named 42)
• Regimbart, "The Citizen" (46)
• Pellerin, painter (46)
• Mlle Vatnaz, actress, courtesan (47)
• Dittmer, guest at the Arnoux (57)
• Delmas, actor (83)
• M. and Mme Oudry, guests at the Arnoux (92)
• Catherine, housekeeper for M. Roque (mentioned 29 and named 102)
• Eléonore, mother of Louise Roque (102)
• Uncle Barthélemy, wealthy uncle of Frédéric (104) *Eugène Arnoux, son of the Arnoux (115) *Rosanette Bron, "The Marshal," courtesan (121)
• Clémence, Daslauriers' mistress (182)
• Marquis Aulnays, Cisy's godfather; M. de Forchambeaux, his friend, Baron de Comaing, another friend; M. Vezou, his tutor (all on 220)
• Cécile, M. Dambreuse's "niece," actually daughter (237)
• Another "character": Mme Arnoux's Renaissance silver casket, first noted at her house (56 and 59), then at Rosanette's (259), finally bought at auction by Mme Dambreuse (407-8)

Internal timeline

An internal timeline of the novel drawn up by Jorn Barger is available here.

Influence

Woody Allen's character lists this novel as one of his main reasons for living in the film Manhattan.

Editions

• Gustave Flaubert Education sentimentale: Histoire d'un jeune homme . (Garnier, Paris, 1984).
• Gustave Flaubert Sentimental Education trans. by Robert Baldick. (Penguin Books, 1964).

Online texts

• Complete French text, by chapter
• Complete French text, in HTML - WARNING: large file.

External links

• Various resources, French
• Manuscript photographs
• Proust on Flaubert