The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller

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‘The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitalier’ (1877) is a short story about the medieval Saint Julian the Hospitalier, written by French author Gustave Flaubert, famous for his scandalous novel ‘Madame Bovary’.

Predicted at birth to do great things, a father and mother are told their new born son will marry into the family of a Great Emperor and become a Saint.

However, when cursed by a stag after slaughtering innocent animals, Julian flees in an attempt to escape his fate.

‘The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitalier’ is a fine example of Flaubert’s mastery of the short story and remains essential reading for fans of his work.

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) was a French novelist, regarded as one of the greatest Western writers and a leading exponent of literary realism in France.

A hugely influential figure, he is best known for his debut novel ‘Madame Bovary’ (1857) which caused a nationwide scandal upon publication with its realistic portrayal of bourgeois life.

The historical novel 'Salammbô' and the painting-inspired 'The Temptation of Saint Anthony' are some of his other well-known works.

Many of Flaubert’s stories have since been adapted for TV and film including ‘Madame Bovary’ (2000) starring Hugh Bonneville and Greg Wise.