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Middle class -- Fiction Books
Best books
Gustave Flaubert
Madame Bovary
"Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1857. Emma Bovary, a beautiful young woman raised on romantic novels, marries a country doctor but finds provincial life suffocating. Craving luxury, passion, and high society, she seeks escape through increasingly reckless means. This groundbreaking work of literary realism caused scandal upon publication, with prosecutors attacking it as obscene. The resulting trial made it notorious before it became a bestseller and one of literature's most influential works.
Gustave Flaubert
Madame Bovary
"Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1856 and 1857. Emma Bovary, a doctor's wife trapped in provincial France, yearns for the passion and luxury she's read about in romantic novels. Desperate to escape her mundane existence, she pursues affairs and spends recklessly beyond her means. Her quest for beauty and excitement leads her down a dangerous path of deception and debt, ultimately testing how far one woman will go to escape reality.
Ford Madox Ford
The Good Soldier
"The Good Soldier" by Ford Madox Ford is a novel published in 1915. Set just before World War I, it chronicles the seemingly perfect marriage of Edward Ashburnham and his friendships with two American couples. Told through flashbacks by an unreliable narrator, the story gradually reveals hidden affairs, deceptions, and tragedies that shatter the facade of respectability. Using pioneering literary impressionism, Ford masterfully unveils how nothing in these relationships is as it first appears, leading to devastating consequences for all involved.
Samuel Butler
The Way of All Flesh
"The Way of All Flesh" by Samuel Butler is a semi-autobiographical novel written between 1873 and 1884, though published posthumously in 1903. This scathing attack on Victorian hypocrisy follows four generations of the Pontifex family, centering on Ernest Pontifex's turbulent journey from oppressive childhood to troubled adulthood. Dominated by hypocritical parents and navigating theological crises, prison, a disastrous marriage, and eventual liberation, Ernest's story captured the anti-Victorian sentiment of its time, earning recognition as a landmark English novel.
Gustave Flaubert
Œuvres complètes de Gustave Flaubert, tome 1 (of 8): Madame Bovary
"Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1857. It tells the story of Emma Bovary, the wife of a provincial doctor who pursues adulterous affairs and lives beyond her means to escape the boredom and mediocrity of country life. Upon publication, the novel sparked a notorious obscenity trial that made it instantly famous across France. Flaubert's acquittal led to overwhelming success, with the first edition selling out in two months. The work is considered one of the earliest examples of literary realism.
George Grossmith
The Diary of a Nobody
"The Diary of a Nobody" by George and Weedon Grossmith is a comic novel published in 1892. It chronicles fifteen months in the life of Charles Pooter, a London clerk whose inflated sense of self-importance collides constantly with everyday reality. Through daily entries, readers witness his domestic troubles, social mishaps, and minor humiliations as he navigates lower-middle-class Victorian life with his wife Carrie and friends. The humor derives from Pooter's obliviousness to his own pomposity, creating a portrait that resonated immediately with contemporary readers and established a lasting genre of aspirational comedy.
Gustave Flaubert
Madame Bovary: A Tale of Provincial Life, Vol. 1 (of 2)
"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.
Gustave Flaubert
Frau Bovary
"Frau Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert is a novel published in 1856-1857. Emma Bovary, a young woman trapped in provincial life, yearns for luxury and romance inspired by her beloved novels. Married to a modest country doctor, she seeks escape through infatuation and affairs while accumulating devastating debts. This seminal work of literary realism sparked an obscenity trial that made it notorious before becoming a bestseller and one of the most influential novels in history.
Arnold Bennett
The Grim Smile of the Five Towns
"The Grim Smile of the Five Towns" by Arnold Bennett is a novel likely written during the early 20th century. The book explores the lives and complexities of the inhabitants of the fictional Five Towns, a community in the Staffordshire potteries known for its rich character studies and social dynamics. The story opens with a focus on two brothers, Horace and Sidney Carpole, delving into themes of familial responsibility, love, and the consequences of actions. The opening portion of the novel introduces readers to Horace Carpole, who is depicted as an altruistic yet socially awkward young man, and his frail half-brother Sidney, recovering from illness under the care of their mother. The narrative sets the tone for a grim comedy, with hints at tragedy stemming from an accident involving the two brothers that leads to Sidney's prolonged health issues. As the story progresses, it unveils Horace's emotional burdens and the societal pressures he faces as he navigates relationships while trying to be a responsible figure in Sidney's life. The dynamics of family and community perceptions against their personal struggles create a compelling backdrop, promising further exploration of their intertwined fates.
Arthur Schnitzler
The Road to the Open
"The Road to the Open" by Arthur Schnitzler is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around George von Wergenthin, a young man grappling with the recent death of his father and his direction in life. The narrative explores themes of grief, nostalgia, and the complexities of human relationships in a society marked by social status and personal aspirations. The opening of the novel establishes George's emotional state as he reflects on his father's passing while dining alone. He wanders through memories of their last conversations and the impact of his familial past on his present. As he sorts through old family documents, he is struck by a sense of both loss and possibility; George contemplates his music and relationships, particularly with Anna Rosner. His chance encounters with friends and prospective romantic interests paint a picture of a complex social milieu filled with intrigue and expectation, setting the stage for George’s personal journey towards self-discovery and openness.
George Meredith
Rhoda Fleming — Complete
"Rhoda Fleming — Complete" by George Meredith is a novel written during the late 19th century. It explores the lives of two sisters, Dahlia and Rhoda, as they navigate love, societal expectations, and personal aspirations in their Kentish rural setting, with the complex dynamics of their family and community shaping their journey. At the start of the story, the reader is introduced to the Kentish family, primarily centered around Queen Anne's Farm, managed by the spirited Mrs. Fleming, who finds solace in gardening amid her struggles with poverty and a difficult husband. The narrative sets up the characters of the sisters, with Dahlia embodying charm and ambition while Rhoda adopts a more reflective, solemn demeanor. There are hints of their dreams of escaping their provincial life, a contrasting duality that is further complicated by family tensions and societal pressures. The opening chapters lay the groundwork for both the sisters' aspirations and the familial conflicts, particularly revolving around Mrs. Fleming's health and the arrival of a young man named Robert Armstrong who is tied to the family's future.
M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon
The Doctor's Wife: A Novel
"The Doctor's Wife: A Novel" by M. E. Braddon is a work of fiction written in the mid-19th century. The story introduces us to George Gilbert, a young medical student from a small town, who is planning a holiday in London. As he embarks on this journey, the narrative hints at themes of duty, family, and the contrasting aspirations of rural life versus the bustling city, particularly through characters like Sigismund Smith, his school friend turned sensation author, and Isabel Sleaford, the daughter of a barrister. The opening of the novel sets the stage with George Gilbert's background, depicting his sheltered upbringing in Graybridge-on-the-Wayverne and his caring but determined father. George's journey to London is filled with anticipation, arriving in the city alongside the Sleaford sisters. Upon meeting Sigismund Smith, we discover his dual life as a struggling author and the romantic idealism of Isabel, who dreams of a life filled with poetic adventure. Intriguingly, the sudden departure of the Sleafords creates an air of mystery that foreshadows dramatic changes, ensuring that George's holiday is anything but ordinary as his life begins to intertwine with theirs.
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