Salammbô: Popular Books by Gustave Flaubert : All times Bestseller Demanding Books

Gustave Flaubert

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Salammbô by Gustave Flaubert is a historical novel that was first published in 1862. Flaubert used Polybius's Histories as his main source for the book and it was very popular when it came out - to the extent that it ignited people's interest in the Roman's conflict with Carthage, where the novel is set. The time period of the book is just before and during the time of the Mercenary War of c. 240 BC, which was a mutiny by troops at Carthage that began over the payment of wages. Amongst the backdrop of war, mutiny, child sacrifices, violence, and crucifixions, there is the fictional title character - a priestess and the daughter of real life historical figure and Carthaginian general, Hamilcar Barca. Lusted after by Matho, the leader of the mercenaries, she enters their camp to take back the sacred veil of Carthage which he has stolen. Written after Madame Bovary, which saw Flaubert being tried and acquitted on charges of immorality, Salammbo was a deliberately less controversial subject to write about. Full chapter list. № 76 in Anne Haight's List of Banned Books.