"Salammbo" by Gustave Flaubert is a historical novel published in 1862. Set in ancient Carthage during the Mercenary Revolt following the First Punic War, it follows Salammbô, a priestess and daughter of General Hamilcar Barca, who becomes entangled in a desperate conflict when a mercenary leader steals Carthage's sacred veil. The novel blends vivid historical detail with a tale of obsession, warfare, and forbidden desire as mercenaries besiege the city and Salammbô must navigate treacherous political and spiritual forces. (This is an automatically generated summary.)