'Salammbo' Summary

Salammbô is a historical novel by Gustave Flaubert, first published in 1862. The novel is set in Carthage during the Third Punic War (149-146 BC), and tells the story of Salammbô, the daughter of the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. The novel begins with a description of the lavish temple of Tanit, the Carthaginian goddess of war and fertility. Salammbô, a beautiful and virtuous young woman, is a priestess of Tanit. She is also the object of desire of two rival mercenary leaders, Mâtho and Spendius. Mâtho is a brave and charismatic Libyan, while Spendius is a cunning and ambitious Greek. Both men are determined to win Salammbô's love, but she is torn between her duty to her goddess and her feelings for Mâtho. The novel follows the tragic love triangle between Salammbô, Mâtho, and Spendius, as well as the brutal war between Carthage and the mercenaries. The war is a bloody and protracted affair, and it eventually leads to the destruction of Carthage. Salammbô is a complex and tragic novel that explores the themes of love, war, and religion. Flaubert's writing is rich and evocative, and he creates a vivid and unforgettable world in which his characters live and die.