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Madame Bovary Readalong - crinolines, carriages and lovers this way, 1 October

301 replies

StColumbofNavron · 28/08/2023 18:30

Following the successful Anna Karenina readalong (almost coming to a close), Emma Bovary has come up in conversation as a comparison piece. You don't need to have read Anna Karenina though to join in.

We start on 1 October, mark your spot.

The goal is to read one chapter per day. There are three parts, 35 chapters and we'll take a day break between each part. It is fine to post as we go along but no further than the chapter for that day.

I have opted for the Aveling Marx translation (Wordsworth Classics) as that is what is on my shelf, however, more on translations below.

https://welovetranslations.com/2022/04/08/whats-the-best-translation-of-madame-bovary-part-1/
https://welovetranslations.com/2022/04/08/whats-the-best-translation-of-madame-bovary-part-2/
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/21/translating-madame-bovary-adam-thorpe

Part 1
1 01-Oct
2 02-Oct
3 03-Oct
4 04-Oct
5 05-Oct
6 06-Oct
7 07-Oct
8 08-Oct
9 09-Oct

BREAK 10-Oct

Part 2
1 11-Oct
2 12-Oct
3 13-Oct
4 14-Oct
5 15-Oct
6 16-Oct
7 17-Oct
8 18-Oct
9 19-Oct
10 20-Oct
11 21-Oct
12 22-Oct
13 23-Oct
14 24-Oct
15 25-Oct

BREAK 26-Oct

Part 3 27-Oct
1 28-Oct
2 29-Oct
3 30-Oct
4 31-Oct
5 01-Nov
6 02-Nov
7 03-Nov
8 04-Nov
9 05-Nov
10 06-Nov
11 07-Nov

What’s the best translation of Madame Bovary? (Part 1)

I found so much information on translations of Madame Bovary that I had to split this post into two! Part 1 of this post talks about the history of the novel and the challenge of translating it. The post gives information about 11 translations publishe...

https://welovetranslations.com/2022/04/08/whats-the-best-translation-of-madame-bovary-part-1

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
AnotherSue · 30/09/2023 12:57

Checking in ready for tomorrow!
I've recently returned to Mumsnet specifically looking for book recommendations and discovered the Anna Karenina readalong that I'd missed so looking forward to joining this one.
I have a Marx-Aveling translation on my kindle and also an audiobook for backup.

Madame Bovary Readalong - crinolines, carriages and lovers this way, 1 October
FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 30/09/2023 12:58

Welcome @AnotherSue
Good reminder! I must buy a translation.

CornishLizard · 30/09/2023 21:05

I’m all set! 2 translations from library and charity shop and a French library copy too in case I feel really keen.

Madame Bovary Readalong - crinolines, carriages and lovers this way, 1 October
Greentrilby · 30/09/2023 21:10

My favourite book. And also the original sex and shopping novel.

Almahart · 30/09/2023 21:33

Ready with my Geoffrey Wall translation!

Original poster
StColumbofNavron · 30/09/2023 22:01

@CornishLizard I admire your commitment there!

So chapter 1 tomorrow.

I think we can post thoughts on each chapter as we go and onus is on us not to read the thread until we've read the chapter to avoid spoilers - does that sound reasonable?

I think we are in for a bit of a slow build up if I remember correctly.

OP posts:
Almahart · 01/10/2023 10:25

I'm really delighted about this. I am terrible for rushing everything and am so looking forward to really taking my time and thinking about things as we go. Kids out, running a bath and am then going to settle down to read.

Sadik · 01/10/2023 10:32

First chapter read - I'm guessing the older wife with dowry isn't the Mme Bovary of the title!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 01/10/2023 12:46

You could be guessing right Sadik ;)

cornflakegirl · 01/10/2023 20:04

First chapter read. Tried it in French, but realised quickly that wasn't going to work out! Wasn't expecting to be reading about an adolescent boy!

cassandre · 01/10/2023 21:15

I've started it too! I'm reading in French (a picture of my French edition attached), but some of the 19th c. vocab is quite obscure to me, so I'm going to get an English translation as well. I think I'll go for the Lydia Davis one as I own and like her translation of Vol. 1 of Proust.

The description of Charles' hat is very famous I think. 😁

cassandre · 01/10/2023 21:19

I'm quite tempted to impersonate Desdamona from the MN Tolstoy threads, and post the Shmoop summaries of each chapter every day. I'm not sure I can be as conscientious as she was though! However, here is today's summary for a start:

Part 1, Chapter 1

  • A nameless first-person narrator (never heard from again after this chapter) recounts the day young Charles Bovary appeared at school.
  • Charles is an embarrassed, rusticated, slow, and bewildered rural fellow. Also, he’s a total fashion victim.
  • Charles has some difficulty managing his tragically ugly hat; the teacher and the other boys all mock him.
  • The class gets even rowdier, and the teacher assigns some lines to punish them. Things quiet down, though Charles is attacked with surreptitious spitballs.
  • The other boys observe the newcomer carefully. He’s not terribly bright, but he’s a hard worker. Next, we get some background on the Bovary family: Charles’s dad is a boastful but unsuccessful businessman who pretty much fails to support his family. His poor mom, whose money sustained her husband through his attempts at finding a career, is embittered, peevish, and obsessed with her son.
  • Charles received a half-hearted education, but spent most of his childhood left to his own devices, running barefoot around the village and chasing turkeys (Whoohoo!).
  • Despite his lackluster upbringing, Charles’s parents hope that he’ll make a name for himself. After a pretty average, unmemorable time at school, they enroll him in medical school, where he begins to appreciate the finer things in life: the stereotypical temptations of wine, women, and song.
  • After failing his exams once, then cramming like crazy and passing a second time, Charles manages to get certified as an officier de santé (health officer). This is kind of like a junior doctor; it’s a guy who’s not a real doctor, but is allowed to practice medicine.
  • Mama Bovary is happy. She sets Charles up in a nearby town, Tostes, then marries him off to a wealthy, needy widow. You’ve got to feel bad for the guy.
FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 01/10/2023 21:33

Oh brilliant, cassandre. If you could post these sometimes, it would be so handy. That's a modern-looking front cover! I like it.

I'm reading it (again) in French and in English. Some of the details will go over my head in French, but there are some gorgeous passages in it too. I have written down 'disproportionate description of hat' in my book from college. Very illuminating! Poor 'Charbovari'. How was he going to get on on life with parents like that?

TattiePants · 01/10/2023 23:06

I’m slightly late but just downloaded a free copy to my Kindle so will catch up tomorrow. I always plan to read more classics then never get round to it so hopefully this will keep me on track.

Tarahumara · 02/10/2023 03:30

Off the starting blocks here too. Thank you @cassandre for taking on Desdamona's role!

AnotherSue · 02/10/2023 06:52

I'm so happy to see the summary @cassandre, thank you. I was hoping to and couldn't remember where they'd come from (I guess I could've looked back at the other thread I suppose!)

CornishLizard · 02/10/2023 07:29

Thanks for the summary cassandre.

I had to go back and check I’d read it right that he’d been married off to a 45 year old, even if rich. Perhaps I’m not so far over the hill!

Original poster
StColumbofNavron · 02/10/2023 08:42

Thank you @cassandre

I am already behind :-)

I absolutely love that cover though, I would have that on my wall, it reminds me of a cross between Fabian Perez and Degas.

OP posts:
Almahart · 02/10/2023 09:36

Thank you @cassandre!

Sadik · 02/10/2023 10:45

I was trying really hard but failing to visualise the hat!

Sadik · 02/10/2023 10:48

Ok, and now I've spent my tea break reading a whole blog post about how this is the point 🤦‍♂️

dnac · 02/10/2023 11:21

Madame Bovary is also being serialised on radio 4 extra, last week and this (catch up on bbc sounds) in case of any interest.

Sadik · 02/10/2023 18:36

That's the one Almahart

cassandre · 02/10/2023 19:28

Part 1, Chapter 2

The young "doctor" is awakened in the night by a call from a patient; someone at a farm called Les Bertaux outside the town has a broken leg that needs to be set. It’s agreed that Charles will head out to take care of the patient at moonrise.
Until then, Charles lies awake, dreading the medical debacle about to unfold. We’ve already figured out that he’s not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer, and he doesn’t feel too confident about his healing powers. We have to admit, we’re nervous for him and his patient, too…seriously, would you want this guy operating on your broken leg?

Les Bertaux turns out to be a nice piece of real estate. Monsieur Rouault, the farmer/patient, is obviously pretty well off. A widower, he takes care of the family farm with the help of his young daughter. Said daughter lets Charles in and takes him up to the patient.

Monsieur Rouault is a good-natured man, and his fracture also proves to be somewhat good-natured; it’s a totally clean break, and Charles starts to feel confident again. He cheers up his patient, and competently takes care of the injury.
In the meanwhile, the daughter, Emma, attempts to make herself useful by sewing some padding, but she turns out to be a bad seamstress. Her ineptitude doesn’t matter, though – Charles is quite taken by her dainty appearance (she’s a total babe). As the three of them go downstairs to have a bite to eat, the young doctor takes a better look at the young daughter.

Charles (and we) get to know Emma a little better. She hates country living, and doesn’t seem quite content with her life. We’re not sure if Charles notices this. What he does notice is that she is really beautiful. She’s got gorgeous brown eyes, full lips, carefully arranged black hair, and rosy cheeks. Someone’s got a crush…
Charles keeps visiting Les Bertaux, supposedly to check in with his patient, but really to see Emma. His irritable/irritating wife finds out that Emma is something of a fine young lady, having received a fancy education at a convent, and is upset by the idea that Charles is in love with the girl. She makes Charles promise not to visit Les Bertaux anymore.

Charles's first wife is not long in this world. Some bad financial news emerges (it turns out she was lying to the Bovarys about how much money she had in the first place, and Mom and Pop Bovary freak out big time), and the distraught woman actually collapses and dies. Charles is now free, although he does feel a little sad, since she loved him.