Gustave Flaubert 
Three Tales 

Three Tales is the last complete fictional work published by Gustave Flaubert before his death. Its creation spans over 30 years and it is recognized as a mature work of the author and concentrated embodiment of Flaubert’s novel art. Turgenev successively translated the work into Russian before it was completed. Falcao said, "Those who know Flaubert find him here; those who do not know him know him here." Among the three tales, The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitalier is based on a medieval story. The author assimilated the essence and rejected the dross to bring the misty legend back to reality; A Simple Heart turns the foul and rotten into the rare and ethereal and writes a touching short story with non-legendary materials; Herodias revitalizes the history and concentrates contradictions and conflicts into one day from morning to night. It is reminiscent of the rigorous structure of drama. These three short stories echo the author’s The Temptation of Saint Anthony, Madame Bovary and Salammbo, respectively.