"Madame Bovary: A Tale of Provincial Life, Vol. 1 (of 2)" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1856-1857. Emma Bovary, a young woman trapped in a dull marriage to a country doctor, yearns for the passion and luxury she has read about in novels. Seeking escape from provincial monotony, she pursues dangerous romantic entanglements and reckless spending that spiral beyond her control. This landmark work of literary realism caused scandal upon publication, facing obscenity charges that made it notorious before becoming a bestseller. (This is an automatically generated summary.)