The Literature Network - Gustave Flaubert (French author of Madame Bovary, 1821--1880) lived with his mother most of his life and his one serious love affair was with the poet Louise Colet, whom he called his muse during their relationship from 1846 to 1854.

Gustave Flaubert (French author of Madame Bovary, 1821--1880) lived with his mother most of his life and his one serious love affair was with the poet Louise Colet, whom he called his muse during their relationship from 1846 to 1854.

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From: Evening Herald (Dublin, Republic of Ireland)
Date: 20080820
Author:

To Louise,

You say to me very tender things, dear Muse. Eh bien, receive in exchange all those still more tender things than you could imagine. Your love ends by penetrating me like a lukewarm rain, and I feel myself soaked in it down to the very bottom of my heart.

Hast thou not everything needful for me to love thee -- body, mind, tenderness? You are simple of soul and strong of head, very little poetical, and extremely a poet; there is nothing but good in you, and you are entirely like your bosom, white and soft to touch.

Those I have known were not equal to you, ...

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Gustave Flaubert (French author of Madame Bovary, 1821--1880) lived with his mother most of his life and his one serious love affair was with the poet Louise Colet, whom he called his muse during their relationship from 1846 to 1854.

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