description Sentimental Education Overview
"Sentimental Education" (French: "L'Éducation sentimentale") is an 1869 novel by French author Gustave Flaubert. The story follows Frédéric Moreau, a young law student from the provinces who moves to Paris and becomes entangled in unrequited love for an older married woman, Marie Arnoux. Set against the political backdrop of the 1848 French Revolution and the establishment of the Second French Empire, the novel depicts Moreau's romantic disillusionment and the social and political upheavals of mid-nineteenth-century France. Flaubert spent several years writing the novel, aiming to create a comprehensive portrait of his generation through Moreau's experiences.
insights Ranking position
Sentimental Education ranks #19 of 127 in the Campus Novel ranking, behind The Glass Bead Game, ahead of Changing Places.
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What historical events serve as the backdrop for Sentimental Education?
Gustave Flaubert's 1869 novel follows a young provincial student's romantic and political disillusionment across mid-nineteenth-century Paris. The narrative heavily features the French Revolution of 1848 and the eventual rise of Louis-Napoléon.
Who is the main character in Sentimental Education?
The story centers on Frédéric Moreau, a young man from the provinces who travels to Paris to study law. Much of the plot revolves around his obsessive, unrequited love for an older married woman named Marie Arnoux.
Did Gustave Flaubert write Sentimental Education before or after Madame Bovary?
Flaubert published Sentimental Education in 1869, which was more than a decade after the massive success of Madame Bovary in 1856. He actually began early drafts of Sentimental Education in his youth but revised it extensively over many years.
What is the significance of the novel's title?
The title is deeply ironic, reflecting Frédéric's failure to learn from his experiences and mature emotionally. Instead of gaining a true education in life and love, he remains trapped in superficial romantic illusions.
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