Other editions of book Salammbo

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880), French novelist and short story writer, was considered to be a master of style, obsessively devoted to finding the right word ("le mot juste"), in every piece of literature he produced. As a child he expressed great imagination and took in all the stories he could from his nurse and neighbors, and in doing so, he prepared himself for a life consumed by literature and history. In addition to his "Madame Bovary", his first published novel and the one considered to be his masterpiece, Flaubert is remembered for his great historical romance, "Salammbô". This novel draws largely from Book I of Polybius' "Histories", and combines the history of the First Punic War and the mythology of ancient Carthage in a fashion that has never been equaled. Flaubert sealed his reputation with the publication of this sophisticated novel in 1862, as audiences were entranced with its lush and brilliantly detailed descriptions of a little-known, but fascinating, period of history.

After the First Punic War, Carthage is unable to fulfill promises made to its army of mercenaries, and finds itself under attack. The fictional title character, a priestess and the daughter of Hamilcar Barca, the foremost Carthaginian general, is the object of the obsessive lust of Matho, a leader of the mercenaries. With the help of the scheming freed slave, Spendius, Matho steals the sacred veil of Carthage, the Zaïmph, prompting Salammbô to enter the mercenaries' camp in an attempt to steal it back. The Zaïmph is an ornate bejewelled veil draped about the statue of the goddess Tanit in the sanctum sanctorum of her temple: the veil is the city's guardian and touching it will bring death to the perpetrator.

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880), French novelist and short story writer, was considered to be a master of style, obsessively devoted to finding the right word ("le mot juste"), in every piece of literature he produced. As a child he expressed great imagination and took in all the stories he could from his nurse and neighbors, and in doing so, he prepared himself for a life consumed by literature and history. In addition to his "Madame Bovary", his first published novel and the one considered to be his masterpiece, Flaubert is remembered for his great historical romance, "Salammbô". This novel draws largely from Book I of Polybius' "Histories", and combines the history of the First Punic War and the mythology of ancient Carthage in a fashion that has never been equaled. Flaubert sealed his reputation with the publication of this sophisticated novel in 1862, as audiences were entranced with its lush and brilliantly detailed descriptions of a little-known, but fascinating, period of history

An historical novel that interweaves historical and fictional characters. The action takes place immediately before and during the Mercenary Revolt against Carthage in the third century BC. This book, which Flaubert researched painstakingly, is largely an exercise in sensuous and violent exoticism. The Carthaginian costumes described therein even left traces on the fashions of the time. Nevertheless, in spite of its classic status in France, it is practically unknown today among English-speakers.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ...all sorts of sinister rumours arose and spread, none knew whence or how--the city's mood was growing more dangerous every day. Men's thoughts turned more and more to Moloch, the terrible, the cruel, and the gentle Tanit was forgotten, her temple deserted. Besides, now that she had lost her mystic veil, she was shorn of her power; this was why the waters of heaven, of which she was the dispenser, were now withheld; almost she was looked on as a traitress, a deserter; there were those who dared to cast stones at her temple and to address to her taunting and insulting speeches. Once the popular mind had seized on this idea--that the loss of the veil was the cause of all the late disasters, Salammbo came in for her share of hatred. She was somehow associated with the theft: she knew of it; she had spoken to the thief,--she should be punished. Soon there were whispers of the necessity of some extraordinary sacrifice. The angry gods should be appeased by an offering of transcendent value--some being, young, beautiful, spotless, the scion of some ancient house,--a human flower. No name was spoken; but every day men who had never been seen there invaded the Barca grounds; the slaves were too scared to drive them off. They did not venture to set foot on the great ebony stairs--not yet. They staid below, their gaze fixed on the topmost terrace, watching for Salammbo, and for hours they abused her at the top of their voices, like hounds baying at the moon. THIS clamouring of the frantic rabble, if it reached Hamilcar's daughter, did not disturb her. She had more important things to worry about: her great serpent, the Black Python, was sick. Now the serpent, weird and mysterious creature, was held very sacred by all the Punic races....

An historical novel that interweaves historical and fictional characters. The action takes place immediately before and during the Mercenary Revolt against Carthage in the third century Bc. This book, which Flaubert researched painstakingly, is largely an exercise in sensuous and violent exoticism. The Carthaginian costumes described therein even left traces on the fashions of the time. Nevertheless, in spite of its classic status in France, it is practically unknown today among English-speakers.