The Education of Feelings

The story of acquiring life wisdom through the harsh process of gradual loss of all kinds of illusions is one of the favorite themes of French literature of psychological realism. However, few have managed to articulate this theme as deeply, intelligently, and ironically as Flaubert did in his brilliant novel The Education of Feelings. Young Frédéric Moreau, dreaming of becoming a writer and secretly and hopelessly in love with the beautiful Madame Arnoux, who is married to and remains faithful to her despicable husband, will have to endure a long and difficult journey from youthful idealism, purity, and naivety to the cold understanding of how this world is actually arranged – with life experiences proving bitter not only for him but also for a considerable number of women who had the misfortune to give him their hearts...