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“My compatriots disgust me, their stupidity drives me to despair.
In order to escape their enthusiasm, I would like to die, ”wrote Gustave Flaubert on July 22nd, 1870 to his friend George Sand.
France declared war on Prussia four days ago.
Flaubert sees it as the first act of a drama which will be followed by the “social revolution”, the civil war - premonition of the Paris Commune.
Flaubert does not feel like a patriot, but in the next days of the war "his heart cramps so much that I am amazed".
He closely follows the troop movements, the London Times annoys him because the paper withholds the military successes of the French.
There is no longer any thought of “poor literature”, inactivity causes Gustave to suffocate, in order to at least do something, he gets involved in Rouen as a nurse in the Hospital Hôtel-Dieu, where his brother Achille works as a surgeon.
Flaubert fears that the empire will only last for a few days, "but you have to defend it to the very last!" got to hit me ”.
The Norman believed he was descended from the Natchez or the Iroquois.
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Flaubert's patriotism increases: “We will defeat the Prussians and we will chase them across the Rhine with a drum roll.
The pacifist bourgeois, like me, are determined to let themselves be killed rather than surrender.
Who would have thought that six months ago! "
When Flaubert wrote this on September 7, 1870, the martial words had long since been followed by deeds. For three days he had been a lieutenant in a company of the National Guard in Croisset, and he drilled daily with the men of his militia.
In Rouen he tries to train himself militarily.
Its warlike activity does not remain hidden from the local press.
The following article appears in the "Nouvelliste" on September 12th:
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“Gustave Flaubert lives in a small property near Rouen, which is said to be completely covered with the separated pages of the 'Éducation sentimentale'.
Our famous novelist has joined the National Guard and shows admirable energy.
The other day he called his servants together to give them the following speech:
Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) in a contemporary caricature
Source: Universal Images Group via Getty
'Anyone who is afraid should run away.
For I hereby solemnly declare that if a Prussian ever dared to cross the threshold of this house, I would blow it up. '
Only a faithful servant and his old mother remained.
Madame Flaubert, who is seventy and in poor health, disputes her son's honor of putting the fuse on the powder keg in this case.
Oh, if only all French were cut out of this cloth! "
Is the article a joke?
Flaubert is pleased that many readers take the article seriously and compliment him for his commitment to the National Guard.
Lieutenant Flaubert on night patrol
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On September 27th, Flaubert went on night patrol for the first time.
Before doing this, he gives “his men” a “fatherly speech”.
He threatens to stab anyone who retreats with his sword and asks the National Guardsmen to fire him a few volleys if he tries to escape himself.
Speeches and exercises, however, remain ineffective, a month later Lieutenant Gustave Flaubert complains: "The militia I command is so undisciplined that I have submitted my resignation." His military career is over.
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