Gustave Flaubert

Emma begins a double life of devoted wife and seductive mistress. When her plans for Charles to become wealthy go sour she turns to Rodolphe for escape only to discover that a ready made family does not fit with his life. A narrow escape from death leaves Emma ready to succumb to domesticity, until a visit to the Opera brings Leon back into her life.

Emma Rouault, expelled from convent school, yearns to experience romance. When her widowed father breaks his leg, the handsome Dr Charles Bovary is called to attend. Emma's dreams come true and soon they marry. But the discovery that married life will not bring a continuing supply of new romantic stimulation comes hard to Emma. She cannot help herself as her affections begin to wander.

With only dreams to hold onto, the monotony of life as the wife of a country doctor brings on a serious bout of melancholia, prompting Charles to have a change in environment. The move to a new practice in the town of Yonville coincides with Emma falling pregnant. Unfortunately, it is not far enough to shake off Emma s interfering and acerbic mother-in-law with her constant barrage of criticism. This exchange of surroundings would have served little purpose were it not for the presence in Yonville of Leon, a young Law student, and now the only person in her life with any vision or aspirations beyond the microcosm of small-town life. Their companionship begins to change form and they become completely obsessed with the self-torture of an impossible love. Leon is deeply wounded to discover that Emma has been concealing her pregnancy, but the rift is healed after the birth of Berthe.