“Just when the gods had ceased to be, and the Christ had not yet come, there was a unique moment in history, between Cicero and Marcus Aurelius, when man stood alone.”

French novelist and critic of the 19th century, Flaubert is best known for his meticulous craftsmanship and literary realism, exemplified by masterpieces like *Madame Bovary*. His relentless pursuit of perfection in prose and his sharp critiques of societal hypocrisy remain influential in modern writing.