Sentimental Education

Frédéric Moreau believes he has found his romantic fate with Madame Arnoux, but amid the political upheaval of 1848, he grapples with unfulfilled desires and competing affections from various women.

Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert follows the journey of Frédéric Moreau, a young man who believes he has found his romantic fate in Madame Arnoux. However, his aspirations are complicated by the political upheaval of the 1848 revolution and his entanglements with three other women. Each woman—an aloof society lady, a whimsical courtesan, and an innocent country girl—offers Frédéric different forms of attraction, further complicating his pursuit of love and fulfillment.

Flaubert's depiction of Frédéric serves as a critique of the disillusionment faced by young men of his era. As he navigates the complexities of desire and ambition, Frédéric struggles to act on his feelings, caught between his romantic ideals and the harsh realities of a corrupt society. The novel paints a vivid picture of a generation grappling with the tension between their aspirations and the societal forces that undermine them, including consumerism and disenchantment.

Through a blend of irony and empathy, Sentimental Education explores themes of love, ambition, and the search for meaning in a changing world. Flaubert's innovative narrative techniques and rich characterizations mark a significant development in literary modernism, positioning the work alongside the greats of the genre. This new translation brings Flaubert's insights to contemporary readers, ensuring that the story remains relevant and impactful.