In each of three short stories--"Herodias," "The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitator," and "A Simple Heart"--Gustave Flaubert studies the nature of humanity and spirituality with his characteristically sharp eye. A loyal servant dies alone, having served her masters all her life without complaining of the tragic losses she suffered; a young man sanctified at birth is driven by bloodlust to inadvertently fulfill the curse placed on him; and John the Baptist endures his life mixed with curses and blessings. Through them all, Flaubert emphasizes the significance of humility in the face of lasting glory. This collection was nominated for the Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize 2010.