Three short works The Dance of Death, the Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller, a Simple Soul.

"Three Short Works" by Gustave Flaubert is a collection of three distinct literary pieces penned during the mid-19th century. This collection includes "The Dance of Death," "The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller," and "A Simple Soul," showcasing Flaubert’s mastery of narrative and character development. The works delve into themes of mortality, fate, social dynamics, and the human condition through imaginative storytelling and rich prose. The opening portion of "The Dance of Death" introduces readers to a hauntingly philosophical exploration of death as a character who reflects on its eternal nature, its role in both life and decay, and its relationship with humanity. Death speaks in vivid imagery, illustrating its eternal witness to human triumphs and tragedies, often experiencing a sense of loneliness and weariness. This leads to an interaction with Satan, portraying a cosmic struggle between the cycles of life and death. Through a unique blend of poetic language and deep existential thoughts, Flaubert sets the stage for a profound reflection on mortality and the inexorability of fate, hinting at themes that will resonate throughout the subsequent pieces in the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist. He has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country and abroad. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flaubert, realism strives for formal perfection, so the presentation of reality tends to be neutral, emphasizing the values and importance of style as an objective method of presenting reality". He is known especially for his debut novel Madame Bovary (1857), his Correspondence, and his scrupulous devotion to his style and aesthetics. The celebrated short story writer Guy de Maupassant was a protégé of Flaubert.