The only thing I knew about Flaubert before reading this novel was his existence, and I don't think that any knowledge of this author is needed to enjoy this novel. Like the other couple of novels by Barnes that I've read, in this novel Barnes manages to show a particular picture (in this case, it's that of Flaubert's life) from several point of views. A good example of this can be seen in the second chapter of this novel, where three different chronologies for the same period of time are listed. I was hooked to this novel after reading these chronologies. Each chapter explores Flaubert (and the narrating doctor) from different point of views and using different styles; I kept wondering what the next chapter will reveal, and how it will be written.

In summary, this is quite a readable novel written in an original style. And for a change, it is a Booker Price finalist that happens to be enjoyable.


breathaking   March 7, 2000
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

You know how sometimes you hear regularly about a much-touted author and you read one his books and it`s so brilliant you virtually KNOW the rest of his extensive back-catalogue can`t come near. To me, The rest of Julian Barnes work sounds a little--underwhelming,and I cannot imagine anything as good as Flaubert`s Parrot...a unique book,very European,dare I say French (and Flaubertian), but keeping a unique and very English tone. This gives the literary novel a good name...readable,thought-provoking and entertaining> I`m a big Flaubert fan so that did add a little to the enjoyment,but even if you know nothing about the great auther, a knowledge of the 19th Century as seen in BBC Costume dramas is all you need. In fact this would make a great tv drama..it`s that accessible. I`ll try and `get into` Julian Barnes` other novels but there`s no way they can be as good as Flaubert`s Parrot.


A clever, funny and readable account of a human life   October 22, 1998
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Julian Barnes is a wonderfully flattering writer and this book is no exception. I had never read any Flaubert and in this book he was able to create a real desire to explore everything he had written. The story centres around a retired doctor and obsessive Flaubert fan who trawls through the life of the writer as though through an antique shop. In the process he unearths treasures not only about Flaubert but about the whole human condition. At the start of the book the character (and above all its glaring flaws)of the doctor and his own tragic history are muffled by the wealth of curioities we discover about Flaubert - slowly the narrators life grip our interest more and more and Barnes manages to drip feed just enough information to keep the reader fascinated. By turns funny and painful this is a truly wonderful book