Gustave Flaubert, famous for Madame Bovary, does something completely different here. He tells the story of Félicité, a servant in 19th-century Normandy.

The Story

For fifty years, Félicité works for a widowed lady, Madame Aubain. She raises the lady's two children, loves them as her own, and experiences life through them. She faces one heartbreak after another—people she loves move away or die. Her greatest companion becomes a stuffed parrot named Loulou. The story follows her unwavering devotion through a life that might seem small from the outside, but is everything to her.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a masterclass in seeing the extraordinary in an ordinary person. Félicité is not clever or worldly, but her capacity for love is bottomless. Flaubert writes her with such care, never making fun of her simplicity. Instead, he shows how her faithful heart gives her a kind of wisdom. It made me think about the quiet, essential people in our own lives and the different ways we all find purpose.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories that pack an emotional punch without being melodramatic. If you enjoy books about overlooked lives, or if you're a fan of writers like George Eliot who treat their characters with deep humanity, you'll connect with this. It's a short, beautiful read that proves a great story doesn't need a complicated plot—just a truly great character.