Hérodias

Written by the great French author Gustave Flaubert, ‘Hérodias’ is the third and final tale from the short story collection, ‘Three Tales’ (1877) and is a memorable retelling of the biblical story of Saint John the Baptist. After her divorce from John's half-brother, Herodias marries Herod, but John claims their marriage is against Mosaic Law. During a lavish birthday celebration for Herod, Herodias plans to have John beheaded. Now his fate rests in the hands of King Herod’s daughter, Salome. This biblical tale will delight fans of Ancient Rome and historical fiction. 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.