Salambo (Penguin Classics)
by Gustave Flaubert
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 118)
Read in May, 2008
I'm only half-way through this time, but this is one of the most excrutiating, unreadable 'great' novels ... partly due to Flaubert's triumph in stripping everything down to its material essence, avoiding all character psychology, and prompting all of us to ask why we are reading. It is essentially a prose poem that deals with a violent, decadent subject (3rd century Carthage) in a style that for the most part eschews psychology and heroics for multi-layered imagery. Cruelty and conquest are e...more
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Read in May, 2007
I didn't like this book much, but I'm glad I read it. I mainly wanted to read it because it takes place in ancient Carthage and I am working on a writing project of my own that takes place partly in Carthage. It reads kind of like an ancient epic tragedy. It is about an army of mercenaries released by the Carthaginians after one of their wars with Rome, and the obsession that one of the soldiers develops with a Carthaginian preistess (Salammbo), which results in his downfall and hers. It is ...more
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Anyone who thought Flaubert was dull based on being assigned Madame Bovary in High School really, really ought to read this. (Madame Bovary is lovely too, of course, but it doesn't have nearly as much intrigue, torture, battles, human sacrifice, cannibalism, or leprous evil oligarchs with rotting flesh).
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Found a used edition with illustrations by Blaine. Quite nice work, reminded me of Kulata. Otherwise, it's a plodding book that makes love, adventure and the sack of a city seem tedious. The thing had the feel of an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. Only not so well done
But i guess if you just want to brag that you've read Flaubert, this is quick and has swordfights.
But i guess if you just want to brag that you've read Flaubert, this is quick and has swordfights.
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This is Flaubert trying, and succeeding (in my opinion), to write an exotic novel. It's got a totally different flavor than his other works, but it has his total attention to detail and his great descriptions. Disclaimer: Flaubert gives very vivid descriptions of the brutality of the Punic Wars, it is a pretty bloody scene to read about sometimes.
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Read in May, 2008
Une oeuvre difficile d'accès et pleine de mystère, ne reflétant pas du tout l'image qu'on souhaite souvent donner à Flaubert. Peut-on parler de réalisme quand il nous dépeint l'antique Carthage et ses extases mystiques, ses guerres, ses cruautés, ses mouvements de foule ?
Plus qu'intriguant et remarquablement bien écrit.
Plus qu'intriguant et remarquablement bien écrit.
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Stunning. Another make-you-want-to-major-in-classics book. Massive and indulgent descriptions of ancient battles and the mysteries of pre-christian rituals. Like a cake you can't stop eating though you know it makes you sick.
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greatest novel about enlightenment's definition of love. surreal doesn't begin to describe, try fever dreams on mars.
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ترجمه ی احمد سمیعی، کتاب های جیبی، انتشارات فرانکلین، 1347
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Read in November, 2007
Sensual decadence of Carthage, spiced nicely with good old-fashioned heathen brutality.
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Read in January, 2000
okay, i seriously only read like 4 pages of this book. snore.
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