The Letters of Gustave Flaubert 1830-1880
Edited and translated by Francis Steegmuller
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I can remember where I was sitting when I first read these words, written by Gustave Flaubert to his mistress, Louise Colet: ‘Ever since we said we loved each other, you have wondered why I have never added the words “for ever”.
‘Why? Because I always sense the future, the antithesis of everything is always before my eyes. I have never seen a child
