Contemporary and Critical Opinion: Gustave Flaubert

Gustave Flaubert,
from his letters:

to Ernest Chevalier (September 13, 1838)

Really I profoundly value only two men, Rabelais and Byron, the only two who have written in a spirit of malice toward the human race and with the intention of laughing in its face. What a tremendous position a man occupies who places himself in such a relation to the world!



to Alfred Le Poittevin (May 26, 1845)

Two days ago I saw Byron's name written on one of the pillars of the dungeon where the prisoner of Chillon was confined. This sight afforded me great joy. I thought more about Byron than about the prisoner, and no ideas came to me about tyranny and slavery. All the time I though of the pale man who one day came there, walked up and down, wrote his name on the stone, and left. One would have to be very daring or very stupid to write one's name in such a place after that.