Flaubert's Parrot

June 27, 2011
Barnes's contemporary classic follows loosely in the footsteps of acclaimed 19th-century French novelist Gustave Flaubert, serving as capsule biography, work of critical art, record of cross-generational authorial jealousy, and a portrait of obsession. As the protagonist meditates on Madame Bovary, while giving us quick glimpses into the source of his own fixation on the novelâlike Emma, his own wife was unfaithful and committed suicideâRichard Morant keeps pace, following Barnes as he dips and dives through a dizzying variety of styles. A Vintage paperback.

This clever treatise on Flaubert would be easier to read than to listen to. Despite the lively voice of the British narrator, the text is too dense to understand without close study. The quotations are especially hard to follow. It's often difficult to tell whether the words are those of Flaubert or the author or another critic entirely. Perhaps Crawford Logan's charming rendition of the author's wit and wisdom could be enjoyed by dedicated Flaubert scholars in search of an etymological treat. J.C. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine