Madame Bovary on Trial

Madame Bovary on Trial examines the 1857 obscenity trial of Gustave Flaubert's novel and the broader cultural tensions in Second Empire France. LaCapra reconstructs the legal proceedings through court documents and period sources, placing them in historical context. The book analyzes the prosecution's and defense's arguments about literature, morality, and artistic freedom in 19th century France. It explores how different social groups and institutions - the law, the church, the bourgeoisie, and the literary world - clashed over the definition and limits of acceptable art. LaCapra devotes significant attention to the novel itself and how its formal innovations challenged period conventions about narrative and representation. The coverage includes both the specific passages that drew legal scrutiny and the broader structure of Flaubert's work. The trial serves as a lens for examining enduring questions about art's relationship to society, morality, and the law. Through this historical case study, the book illuminates the complex interactions between literature and social power.

Readers find LaCapra's analysis thorough but dense and academic in style. Several reviews note the book requires significant background knowledge of both Flaubert's novel and literary theory. Positives: - Deep examination of the 1857 obscenity trial's historical context - Strong connections between legal and literary interpretations - Detailed analysis of the prosecution's arguments Negatives: - Complex academic language makes it inaccessible for casual readers - Assumes extensive prior knowledge - Some sections become repetitive - Several readers note difficulty following the theoretical arguments One reader on Goodreads writes: "The legal history is fascinating but gets buried under heavy theory." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.71/5 (17 ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (2 ratings) JSTOR: Multiple positive academic reviews cite its contribution to Flaubert scholarship The book resonates more with academic audiences than general readers seeking historical information about the trial.

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🔖 LaCapra's analysis reveals that Flaubert's obscenity trial in 1857 was less about literary merit and more about the French government's attempt to assert control over public morality during the Second Empire. 📚 The book explores how Madame Bovary's defense lawyer, Jules Sénard, cleverly shifted the trial's focus from moral concerns to artistic qualities, effectively transforming it into a debate about literary realism. ✒️ Author Dominick LaCapra pioneered a new approach to intellectual history by combining literary theory, psychoanalysis, and historical analysis in his examination of the trial. 📖 During the actual trial of Madame Bovary, the prosecution particularly objected to three scenes: the carriage ride, Emma's seduction, and her death—all of which are meticulously analyzed in LaCapra's work. 🏛️ The book demonstrates how the trial of Madame Bovary helped establish the modern concept of artistic freedom in France and influenced subsequent obscenity trials throughout Europe and America.