realism
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The History of Literature #455 — Gustave Flaubert
Perhaps contemporary critic James Wood put it best: “Novelists,” he wrote, “should thank Flaubert the way poets thank spring.” In this episode, Jacke takes a look at the life and major works of Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880), the Frenchman from Rouen who redefined what realism – and prose fiction – could do. Additional listening: Help support Continue reading
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The History of Literature #420 – Honoré de Balzac (with Carlos Allende)
Very few novelists can match the ambition or output of French novelist Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850). A pioneer of the great nineteenth-century “realism” tradition, his novel sequence La Comédie Humaine presents a panoramic view of post-Napoleonic France. Containing something like 90 finished novels and novellas, Balzac’s achievement has influenced writers like Hugo, Dickens, Flaubert, and Continue reading
Jacke Wilson 