Gustave Flaubert’s life was intertwined with the themes and characters he portrayed in his fiction. His personal experiences, particularly during the writing of "A Simple Heart," were marked by profound loss and reflection, influencing the tone of his work. The story is often seen as a pivotal point in Flaubert’s literary career, revealing a newfound compassion for the human condition that was absent in his earlier pieces.

Early Life and Education

Born in 1821 in the city of Rouen, France, Gustave Flaubert was the second child in a family where medicine was a central theme, as his father was a provincial doctor. His early education took place in Rouen before he moved to Paris to study law. However, during this period, Flaubert began to experience epileptic seizures, which would persist throughout his life.

Shift to Writing

Due to his health challenges, Flaubert abandoned his legal studies and devoted himself entirely to writing. In the ensuing years, he produced various prose writings, including personal memoirs, but showed little urgency to publish. Flaubert, though solely a writer by profession, seemed unconcerned with the pursuit of literary fame. He once confided in George Sand through a letter, stating that success should be seen as a byproduct, not a pursuit.

Madame Bovary and Its Impact

In 1851, Flaubert embarked on writing Madame Bovary, the novel that would solidify his place in literary history. When published in 1857, the novel stirred quite the scandal due to its candid portrayal of adultery and suicide, resulting in an obscenity trial from which he narrowly escaped conviction. Flaubert's commitment to realism was at the heart of the controversy. Eschewing the romanticism favored by his contemporaries, he focused on meticulous observation and faithful representation of reality. This unflinching depiction of middle-class life shocked many readers, who were unaccustomed to such introspective scrutiny, and this discomfort was reflected in various critical reviews. Notably, George Saintsbury remarked that Flaubert "has to a very remarkable degree the art of chaining the attention even when the subject is a distasteful one to the reader." Despite the scandal, the novel received commendations from serious literary critics, ultimately enhancing Flaubert's literary standing.

Later Life and Works

Flaubert remained a bachelor, spending most of his days in seclusion either at his Paris residence or in the peaceful countryside of Normandy. He continued to write prolifically, with his work including titles such as Salammbô and L'Education Sentimentale (Sentimental Education). In 1877, three years before his death, he published Three Tales (Trois Contes), which included the poignant story "A Simple Heart." This collection is often regarded as the culmination of Flaubert's literary prowess, embodying the compassionate "literature of consolation rather than desolation" that George Sand had previously encouraged him to create.