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Salambo (Penguin Classics)
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 843.8
EAN: 9780140443288
ISBN: 0140443282
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: August 25, 1977
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
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Editorial Review:
Translated by Hugh Tredennick and Harold Tarrant.
Introduction and Notes by Harold Tarrant.
An epic story combining lust, cruelty, riches, ritual and sensuality, few French historical novels can stand comparison with Salammbo.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Weak depth of character
Though I loved Madam Bovary, I was not expecting anything from this book. The problem with the character, Salambo, a temple girl, is that she was missing in action. Instead the author uses the title as a pretense to explore and describe Carthage, and gives us little opportunity to know the main characters. Salambo says a few vague lines and then she's off, usually in a huff over her father, then Flaubert starts his travelogue on Carthage again, panning the lens around. If you love sheer exotic scenery ... Read More
Rating:  - Not too wild
I didn't dislike the book. And in retrospect, there were some well-created scenes. But a lot of it is flowery language that doesn't really move a plot. So in short, very vivid background and characters, not a whole lot of interaction. If you're looking for excellent French literature that is both descriptive in detail and maintains momentum in prose, you're best off with Dumas.
Rating:  - A Bit of a Disappointment, Very Slow, and Sometimes a Confusing Read
One must admire the research that went into the book, and for that the novel has some value. Beyond the historical research, there are few positive things to recommend the novel.
There are no literary hooks and overall it is not a well balanced novel. There are many characters and lots of killings and confusion. One wonders if Flaunbert was the author. Is this the same Flaubert that created the masterpiece "Madame Bovary"? Yes it is, but what a change. The writing is good, but the subject ... Read More
Rating: - Clouded, Debauched Banquet
I enjoyed this novel enough to recommend it, but I'm sure it's not for everyone. In a way the things I like about it are integrally interwoven with its flaws. For example, I love the luxurious detail that Flaubert gives. You'd think he was actually there, the way he describes every morsel of food, each tribe's jewelry, customs, idiosyncracies. He has details that he lays out like a lush banquet, way too much to actually eat, but beautiful to gaze at. The flaw in this for me is that Flaubert in the notes ... Read More
Rating:  - Worthy of a wider audience
Even though I agree with the reviewers who stated that this novel is nothing like Madame Bovary, I tend to see this as a strength of a talented world writer. In this novel Carthage is in its death throes as an imperial nation---eternally at war and unable to meet the daily needs of its citizens. They are forced to believe in an ecstatic religious cult that demands the sacrifice of humans. Flaubert's language in this novel even mirrors the internal frenzy of the citizens who always have to be prepared for ... Read More
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