Madame Bovary

Set in 19th-century France, this novel follows Emma Rouault, a young woman yearning for a life filled with wealth and romance. Married to the uninspiring doctor Charles Bovary, her dissatisfaction leads her to seek fulfillment outside her marriage through affairs. Initially met with controversy for its candid themes, the story explores the struggles of a woman challenging societal norms and desires in a male-dominated world. Now celebrated as a classic of literary realism, it highlights the complexities of love and ambition.