Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) stands among the giants of nineteenth-century French literature. Born in Rouen, France, to a family of doctors, he was drawn to literature early in life. His rigorous attention to stylistic perfection and his masterful blend of realism with psychological depth characterize his writing. Flaubert's best-known work, 'Madame Bovary' (1857), revolutionized the art of the novel; the frank depiction of adultery and rural life challenged the moral and aesthetic norms of his time, leading to his prosecution (later acquitted) for immorality. 'The Temptation of Saint Anthony' (1874), a historical novel that the author labored over for decades, exemplifies his scrupulous craft. It traces the mystical trials of Saint Anthony the Great, reflecting Flaubert's fascination with the relationship between the cerebral and the sensual. Hallmarks of Flaubert's style include detailed description, social criticism, and a relentless pursuit of le mot juste ('the precise word'). His influence can be seen in the works of later writers, notably Émile Zola and the Naturalist movement, as well as Modernist authors such as James Joyce. Despite a life marked by a series of personal tragedies and a perpetual struggle with financial insolvency, Flaubert's literary accomplishments secured him a central place in the Western canon.