First published 1996
Félicité, a simple-hearted servant, navigates a harsh provincial French world with remarkable resilience. Orphaned and uneducated, she finds purpose through unwavering loyalty—first to her mistress, then to her beloved parrot Loulou. When tragedy repeatedly strikes, Félicité's capacity for love remains unbroken, transforming personal loss into spiritual persistence. Her modest life becomes a testament to pure, uncomplicated devotion that transcends social expectations and personal suffering. Flaubert reveals the extraordinary dignity within an ordinary existence.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: resilience, unwavering-loyalty
Setting: France
Period: 19th Century
68 pages · Paperback · New Directions