“A Simple Heart" is the first of three short stories by Gustave Flaubert that appeared in the book "Three Stories" published in 1877.
The Story of a Simple Heart is, quite simply, the tale of an unassuming life, that of a poor country girl who is pious yet mystical, devotional without exuberance, and tender as fresh bread.
In succession she loves a man, her mistress's children, a nephew, an old man she is caring for, and then her parrot; when the parrot dies, she has it stuffed, and when she dies in turn, she mistakes the parrot for the Holy Spirit.
"This is by no means meant to be ironic, as you might suspect, but on the contrary very serious and very sad. I want to touch sensitive souls and make them cry by being one myself". Gustave Flaubert.
