Salammbô
What is Salammbô about?
Salammbô (1862) is Gustave Flaubert’s epic historical novel set in ancient Carthage during the Mercenary Revolt (241–237 BC). The novel follows the mercenary soldier Mâtho, who falls obsessively in love with Salammbô, daughter of the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. Flaubert researched the period with obsessive thoroughness, recreating Carthaginian religion, warfare, and daily life in prose of extraordinary visual intensity. The novel’s depictions of battle, ritual sacrifice, and doomed passion create a world both alien and viscerally real.
Main themes in Salammbô
Ancient Carthage
In Salammbô, ancient carthage provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Mercenary Revolt
In Salammbô, mercenary revolt provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Historical epic
Historical epic emerges as a defining element in Salammbô, shaping character development.
Doomed passion
In Salammbô, doomed passion provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Why Salammbô is still relevant today
Salammbô is one of the most ambitious historical novels ever written, bringing ancient Carthage to life with unmatched vividness. Read it free online on TextStack.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Salammbô about?
A mercenary soldier falls obsessively in love with the daughter of a Carthaginian general during the Mercenary Revolt in this epic recreation of ancient Carthage.
Where can I read Salammbô online?
You can read Salammbô by Gustave Flaubert free online on TextStack.