This well-preserved, beautiful softcover edition is in near fine condition with no marks or tears and shows absolutely minimal shelf wear. The pages are tight, unmarked, and the book is tight, square, and unmarked. Madame Bovary: Patterns of Provincial Life is a renowned English translation of Gustave Flaubert's seminal 1857 novel, Madame Bovary. Francis Steegmuller was an esteemed American biographer, translator, and critic, particularly noted for his expertise in French literature. His translation of Madame Bovary is often regarded as one of the definitive English versions, praised for capturing the subtleties and stylistic elements of Flaubert's writing.