Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert Value Guide

This vintage Rinehart Editions paperback represents a mid-20th-century approach to Flaubert's 1856 masterpiece, which famously faced obscenity charges for its realistic portrayal of Emma Bovary's infidelity. These editions are collectible for their distinctive academic cover designs and their role in bringing high literature to the American mass market between 1940 and 1960.

What Is Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert Worth?

The typical price range for Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert is $10 - $20 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Overall physical condition, specifically looking for spine creasing, foxing of the paper, or 'chipping' on the cover edges.
• The presence of any unique cover art or specific printing dates within the 1940-1960 range.
• Lack of internal markings, as many of these copies were used as textbooks and often contain student marginalia.
• The integrity of the glue binding, which can become brittle and prone to cracking in vintage paperbacks.

How to Identify Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert?

• Look for the 'Rinehart Editions' branding and series number prominently displayed on the front cover and spine.
• Verify the publisher as Rinehart & Company, Inc., typically located in New York during this era.
• Check for the specific mid-century typography and minimalist graphic design characteristic of early American paperback classics.
• Confirm the presence of an introduction or critical notes, which were standard features of the Rinehart educational series.

History of Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Madame Bovary is considered one of the greatest novels ever written. First published in 1856, it was Gustave Flaubert's debut novel. The story of Emma Bovary, a doctor's wife who lives beyond her means in pursuit of luxury and romance, led to charges of obscenity against Flaubert. He was acquitted, and the novel's realistic portrayal of provincial life and its critique of bourgeois society cemented its place in literary history. Rinehart Editions were popular paperback versions of classic literature, often used in educational settings.