Madame Bovary, C'Est Moi: The Great Characters of Literature and Where They Came from

by André Bernard

A delightful compendium of wit and information, this book takes us on a casual stroll through literary history as the world's most successful writers sought just the right name, or just the right tone, or just the right prop, for the hero or heroine of their works. How did Nero Wolfe in Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout end up with the name of a Roman emperor? Was Tolstoy's Anna Karenina based on a real person? Why was Hercule Poirot, the great inspector...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393051811
• ISBN13: 9780393051810
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 135 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Bathroom Reading for The Literati

This pleasant little book is perhaps best described as bathroom reading for the literati. When your copy of The New Yorker isn't at hand, this is just the ticket for little 5 or 10 minute snippets of reading. Benard has done pleasing spadework in excavating the origins of about 75 famous literary characters: sometimes it's just the name, sometimes the look of a character, and sometimes their entire personality. The entries make for light fluffy reading, broken up by quotes from famous writers on the creation and nature of characters, cutesy line art, and sidebars like "Characters with One Name" or "Some Orphaned Characters." My favorite entry were the ones on Dantes from the Count of Monte Cristo, and my favorite rechristening was that of Bingo Bolger-Baggins to Bilbo Baggins. All in all, this is a nice little book to give as a gift, or to place in a guest bathroom.

A light read, with some fascinating trivia

In this cute little book, author André Bernard takes us back into the genesis of many literary characters, such as Dorian Gray, Long John Silver and even Moby Dick. Is there a story behind the character? Why did the author pick that name, that nationality, that character trait? Read this book and find out! Though quite small, I found this book quite enjoyable. The author provides a light read, with some really fascinating trivia about the characters I have enjoyed reading about. I highly recommend this book.