The Dance of Death

by Gustave Flaubert

Gustave Flaubert was born in Rouen in 1821. As a writer Flaubert was a perfectionist, who did not make a distinction between a beautiful or ugly all was in the style. The idea, he argued, only exists by virtue of its form - its elements included the perfect word, cunningly contrived and verified rhythms, and a genuine architectural structure.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, France

Paperback

First published May 18, 1838

About the author

Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist. He has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country and abroad. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flaubert, realism strives for formal perfection, so the presentation of reality tends to be neutral, emphasizing the values and importance of style as an objective method of presenting reality". He is known especially for his debut novel Madame Bovary (1857), his Correspondence, and his scrupulous devotion to his style and aesthetics. The celebrated short story writer Guy de Maupassant was a protégé of Flaubert.

Reviews

[Connie G]

"The Dance of Death" is a prose poem written in the romantic tradition. It features a conversation between Death and Satan with Nero joining in at the conclusion. It's written in very ornate, over the top language. Flaubert was only 17 years old when this was written in 1938.

Unrated

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flaubert just might have had a preoccupation with death, though I am far from an expert on his works. This story is very vivid in its description of death, the otherworldly, faith or lack of it, and everything that leads to the end. I listened to the story on Librivox and the narrator was very good.

[Iqra Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many words for few things!
Death ends all; judgment comes to all.

[Tinomutenda Mpunganyi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird, intriguing, and profoundly unsettling.

The Dance of Death, the first work in Flaubert's Three Short Works, delivers a surreal and macabre exploration of mortality, power, and vanity. What begins as an apparent monologue by Death transforms into a philosophical dialogue with Satan, before spiraling into the entrance of Emperor Nero himself.

Initially, I found myself puzzled—was this a play? A poetic meditation? The structure is disorienting: monologues give way to a conversation that feels less like human speech and more like grandiose musings from immortal entities. Death’s opening lament immediately struck me. Tired of his endless work, he longs for release, reflecting a rare vulnerability for a figure so often associated with cold finality. In stark contrast, Satan’s speech is an ego-filled proclamation of his earthly dominion, while Nero’s arrival brings an almost absurd level of vanity as he brags about his might and delusions of universal conquest.

It was fascinating to realize this was all happening in the waiting moments before Nero's death. This snapshot of metaphysical beings having casual but philosophical musings on existence, power, and their roles in the grand scheme of things was both chilling and oddly compelling.

While the story captivated me, its dialogue-heavy format sometimes felt tedious. The characters' self-absorbed musings and the overarching bleakness left me with a lingering sense of melancholy. But perhaps that's the point: to immerse the reader in the grim absurdity of their eternal roles.

If you’re looking for a clear narrative or action, this isn’t it. Instead, Flaubert offers an unsettling, morbidly fascinating glimpse into the minds of Death, Satan, and Nero in a story that lingers long after its final line.

Looking forward to seeing how this fits into the rest of the collection.

Final Rating: 3.5/5

I appreciated the story's intrigue and depth, especially Death’s unique vulnerability and the way it captured a snapshot of his eternal existence. The structure was fascinating once I figured it out, and the dialogue raised some thought-provoking ideas. But at the same time, it was just... weird. The disjointed monologues, the heavy philosophical musings, and the grim tone left me feeling both intrigued and emotionally drained. I admired its artistry, but I also found parts of it frustrating to wade through. It's definitely a story that sticks with you, though—whether you like it or not.

[Seema Dubey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flaubert wrote this at 17 years (1838) almost 2 centuries back! Understandably, it's written in quite an ornate style, and it is akin to a prose poem. It's well written and thus holds your interest. Death laments to Satan over the cruelest job that God has given him, as one day Satan will be able to rest- his work being over.

"I must be everywhere. The precious metals flow, the diamonds glitter, and men's names resound at my command. I whisper in the ears of women, of poets, and of statesmen, words of love, of glory, of ambition... I lounge, at the same instant, on a courtesan's couch and on the perfumed beds of emperors. Hatred and envy, pride and wrath, pour from my lips in simultaneous utterance. By night and day I work. I luxuriate voluptuously in baths perfumed with roses; I race in chariots; yield to deep despair; or boast aloud in pride."

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange, I get the feeling that Flaubert was quite high-strung. Chill dude!

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Of death and a reverence for Satan. Not my kind of book. I couldn't finish this one. I loved two of Flaubert's other short novellas but this one I would rate a zero if I could. The entire story (well, what I could finish) was uninteresting.

[Bogdan Liviu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why are we here? What hurricane has hurled us into this abyss?"

[Quiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vivid description of death. Has a definite feel of the otherworldly. Worth listening to it being read out loud.

[Manan Sheel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great sceneries in your mind while reading...