Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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LCC3401 Section G Group 1 Technical Report
19th Century French Transportation
As found in the novel Madame Bovary
by Gustave Flaubert
Group Members:
Bah, Elhadj
Greenhill, James
James, Jeremiah
Orlando, Andrew
Document Approved by:
_____________________ Date:_____
Michael Fournier
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents.....................................................................................................................................2
Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................4
Foreword ....................................................................................................................................................5
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................6
Methodology ..............................................................................................................................................7
Compilation of a List of Important Modes of Transportation...............................................................7
Identification Of Questions to Answer, Important Facts For Comparison And Reference..............7
Determination Of Estimated Trip Distances and Times for Trips in the Book ..................................7
Split Up List Of Modes Of Transportation And Individual Research ....................................................7
Preparation and Data Merging into Technical Report ...........................................................................8
Making of the Digital Artifact.....................................................................................................................8
Results and Discussion .............................................................................................................................9
19th Century French Transportation ........................................................................................................9
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................9
Road conditions as described in the novel ..........................................................................................9
19th century vehicles found in the novel ..........................................................................................10
Barouche ......................................................................................................................................................11
Description ..............................................................................................................................................11
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................11
Buggy ............................................................................................................................................................12
Description ..............................................................................................................................................12
Literary Analysis of its Significance ....................................................................................................12
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................12
Chaise ...........................................................................................................................................................14
Description ..............................................................................................................................................14
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................14
Charabanc....................................................................................................................................................16
Description ..............................................................................................................................................16
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................16
Coach............................................................................................................................................................17
Description ..............................................................................................................................................17
Types of Coaches found in the Novel .................................................................................................17
Occurrences in the novel ......................................................................................................................17
Part 3 Ch. 11 ...........................................................................................................................................17
Covered Boat...............................................................................................................................................18
Description ..............................................................................................................................................18
Literary Analysis of Its Significance ....................................................................................................18
Occurences in the Novel .......................................................................................................................18
Farm-cart.....................................................................................................................................................20
Description ..............................................................................................................................................20
Literary Analysis of its Significance ....................................................................................................20
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................20
Hirondelle ....................................................................................................................................................21
Description ..............................................................................................................................................21
Literary Analysis of Its Significance ....................................................................................................21
Occurrences in the Novel......................................................................................................................21
Days of operation of the Hirondelle ..................................................................................................22
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Horse.............................................................................................................................................................23
Description ..............................................................................................................................................23
Literary Analysis ....................................................................................................................................23
Appearances in Madame Bovary..........................................................................................................23
Landau..........................................................................................................................................................24
Description ..............................................................................................................................................24
Literary Analysis of Its Significance ....................................................................................................24
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................24
Gig.................................................................................................................................................................26
Description ..............................................................................................................................................26
Literary Analysis of Its Significance ....................................................................................................26
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................26
Travel by Foot.............................................................................................................................................28
Description ..............................................................................................................................................28
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................28
One-horse shay ...........................................................................................................................................29
Description ..............................................................................................................................................29
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................29
Stagecoach ..................................................................................................................................................30
Description ..............................................................................................................................................30
Literary Analysis of its Significance ....................................................................................................30
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................30
Tilbury ..........................................................................................................................................................31
Description ..............................................................................................................................................31
Literary Analysis of Its Significance ....................................................................................................31
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................31
Van ................................................................................................................................................................32
Description ..............................................................................................................................................32
Literary Analysis of Its Significance ....................................................................................................32
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................32
Wagon...........................................................................................................................................................33
Description ..............................................................................................................................................33
Literary Analysis of Its Significance ....................................................................................................33
Appearances in Madame Bovary ..........................................................................................................33
Trips..............................................................................................................................................................34
Trip Times for some Modes of Transportation ..................................................................................34
Trips that raise questions .....................................................................................................................34
Fact Summary..........................................................................................................................................35
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................38
Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................38
Glossary ....................................................................................................................................................39
References ...............................................................................................................................................41
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Executive Summary
The following technical report is a detailed analysis of the transportation aspect in the novel Madame Bovary by
Gustave Flaubert specifically pertaining to the translated version by Francis Steegmuller. The reason why this topic
was chosen was due to the difficulty for readers living in modern times to fully discern and appreciate 19th century
travel in provincial France as detailed in the novel. Information was aquired via a variety of sources. Beginning with
the novel itself specific information pertaining to travel was extracted. Once this was done we used the internet,
library resources, online databases and journals; compiling what we found into a wiki. An appreciation for the
difficulties of 19th century travels was obtained through this research. This work can be expanded upon via the wiki
by any person interested in furthering the research in this subject. Suggested research for the future would be to
create a directory of cities found in the novel and information on these cities pertaining to the time period of the
novel.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Foreword
Finding information on 19th century French transportation was no easy task. A substantial amount of research was
undertaken and some sources more than others contributed to our work. We would like to thank Professor Michael
Fournier for providing us with this opportunity to not only read and study a great novel, but to use it as a vehicle to
further our knowledge and understanding on both the French Culture and Transportation Infrastructure, and our
abilities to communicate technical topics effectively.
We would also like to thank Google and its ongoing effort to digitally archive books that otherwise we would not be
able to have access to. Equally as helpful was the nice staff at the Georgia Tech Library. Without their help we
would not have been able to find half of the sources that were used in the production of this artifact. Along with
Peanut Butter Wiki which allowed us to post our findings onto the internet and allow not only us to collaborate but
also allow people in the future to append to our findings.
Being that Madame Bovary is a French novel, Elhadj Bah’s fluent knowledge of the French language broadened the
scope of our search criteria, allowing us to not only search English sources, but also non-translated French sources
on the subject.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Introduction
The following technical document analyzes 19th century transportation as found in the novel Madame Bovary
written by Gustave Flaubert. Modern readers familiar with our fast cars, trains, and airplanes may not fully grasp
the transportation problems that people in the 19th century were faced with. They may have a difficult time
understanding not only the physical distance between locations in Madame Bovary, but also the painful task it was
for travelers in the 19th century to reach what would seem to be much closer locations today.
Many people have a general idea; however it is difficult for us living in modern times to fully discern and appreciate
the difference between the modes of transportation prevalent in “Madame Bovary” and our cars, buses, planes, and
so forth. For instance, a Frenchman reading Flaubert’s book at its time of publication would likely be very familiar
with the capabilities of horses as transportation (either riding on horseback or in various kinds of horse-drawn
vehicles). This may certainly not be the case for present-day readers who are familiar with the capabilities of cars
and buses but only have a vague idea of how far and how fast a horse or horse-drawn carriage can go.
Modern readers of Madame Bovary also encounter many unfamiliar names of transportation vehicles. For instance,
when a reader comes across the following section, he is certain to be left with multiple questions:
The invited guests arrived early in a variety of vehicles. One-horse shays, two-wheeled charabancs, old gigs
without tops, vans with leather curtains. And the young men from the nearest villages came in farm-carts, standing
one behind the other along the sides and grasping the rails to keep from being thrown, for the horses trotted
briskly and the roads were rough. They came from as far as twenty-five miles away, from Goderville, from
Normanville, from Cany. (Part 1, Ch 4)
What is a “Shay” or a “Charabanc”? What do these vehicles say about the wealth and status of those making use of
them? If they came from twenty-five miles away, just how long would it take them in each of these vehicles? How
costly was it to make the trip? The passage mentions having to hold tight to rails due to rough roads, how risky was
it to ride in one of these vehicles?
Another passage in the novel that would confuse readers would be:
The Postchaise with its blue silk curtains would have climbed slowly up the mountain roads, and the postilion's song
would have re-echoed among the cliffs, mingling with the tinkling of goat bells and the dull roar of waterfalls.
(Part 1, Ch 7)
What is a Postchaise? Is it possible that this is a description of the mountain itself? Could it be a huge piece of fabric
that Emma is dreaming about on top of a mountain? If it is a vehicle why would Emma choose it as her fantasy
vehicle? These are all legitimate questions that a reader may bring up to just that one line.
A reader isn’t going to be able to answer these and many other questions that come up throughout the book without
doing research, thus greatly diminishing the pleasurable reading experience the book is supposed to be.
It would certainly be helpful if they had a resource that is specific to transportation as found in this novel. They
could refer to this resource and not only see a picture of this particular vehicle, but get detailed information about
it such as how many passengers it can take, how many horses it uses, an idea on how much it costs, how widely used
it is, and the social status of people who ride in this vehicle. This is where this technical report proves to be helpful
by answering the questions above, and therefore providing a more accurate and complete understanding of the
novel.
In order to compile this document, we identified all relevant transportation terms and occurrences in the novel.
Once this was done, we used internet search engines, books, encyclopedias, and library resources to find
information on 19th century travel such as road conditions, infrastructure, and prevalent modes of transportation
back then. For each transportation vehicle identified in the book, we also found specific information relevant to it
which allowed us to answer the questions outlined previously.
After completing the research above, we discovered a great deal of information on the difficulties associated with
transportation in 19th century France, the enormous differences between 19th century travel and travel as we now
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
know it, and specific information on all vehicles mentioned in the novel.
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These findings will certainly enlighten many modern-day readers of Madame Bovary on the difficult and mostly
unfamiliar topic of 19th century French transportation. The information presented within this technical report will
unquestionably help them answer any unclear aspects of this topic they may have, as well as questions that may
arise in their minds such as those previously presented.
Methodology
Compilation of a List of Important Modes of Transportation
Each group member reviewed a hundred pages of the book to check for mention of transportation/vehicles and trip
occurrences. After individually examining the book, together we merged what are deemed the relevant modes of
transportation. Using a list of types of carriages found online, it wasn’t hard to search through the text-version of
the book to find mention of several of them. This made this step relatively easy and time-efficient.
Identification Of Questions to Answer, Important Facts For Comparison And Reference
This part of the project helped us determine what we learned and in turn teach the reader about the modes of
transportation we previously identified in step 1.
We researched questions of safety, cost, range, speed (including trip times for common trips in the book such as
from Yonville to Rouen), carrying capacity (people and luggage), privacy (how easily could Emma be spotted?), and
how widespread the use of each mode of transportation was. This list of questions was used in quality assurance of
our wiki and report.
Determination Of Estimated Trip Distances and Times for Trips in the Book
It was important for us to figure out just what the distance and trip time between several important locations in the
book are, especially for trips that occur repeatedly. This was very tricky because it should not be the simple
Euclidean distance but rather should take into account the roads that existed at the time. For the most part,
Flaubert gives actual trip distances. For those trips, we used that information along with the research results we
conduct for the vehicle used in the trip to get an estimate of the trip time.
For other trips whose distances Flaubert did not indicate, our initial research on Google Maps revealed that the
locations Flaubert used are in fact real and still existing. It has been noted that Flaubert actually changed the
location of some cities such as Yonville. This narrowed the scope of our research a great deal in this area and caused
us to focus on getting estimates for the trips we had information on in the novel.
To really drive home the capabilities of these vehicles, we included how these vehicles would perform on several
trips that students themselves are likely to have made in their own lives. In this case, trips across campus where
used to illustrate different situations with these vehicles.
Split Up List Of Modes Of Transportation And Individual Research
We proceeded to the most important part of the research process. One great way we split up the work was among
the different modes of transportation identified in step 1. Each group member went out and researched the vehicles
they were assigned.
The book alone did not provide solid facts and data, so we used books, the internet, and library resources. For each
identified mode of transportation, we proceeded to answering the questions presented in step 2 above.
Jeremiah was responsible for finding out cost, safety, and reliability information.
James was responsible for researching the locations Flaubert moved the cities to, along with range, speed, and
carrying capacity of the modes of transportation identified.
Elhadj was responsible for researching the social status of people likely to ride in each mode of transportation,
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
transportation costs from one location to another.
Finally, Orlando was responsible for locating the history along with great illustrations of all of these modes of
transportation.
There was a plethora of information available to help us achieve this task.
For researching pictures, carrying capacity and history of a tilbury for instance, we typed “Tilbury” in the search
box of http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/ and obtained not only multiple pictures of it, but information
about how many people it seats, number of horses, history, and much more. This reveals that a Tilbury is a oneseater vehicle, drawn by one-horse. From the picture, it looks like the vehicle should provide appropriate comfort
to the rider. However, it does not offer any protection from rain or sunshine.
The book “English Pleasure Carriages: origins, history, variety, materials, construction” by William Bridges Adams
gave us great information about likely social status of people who ride in specific 19th century carriages.
When researching how comfortable a 19th century stagecoach is, what it looked like, or how many people a typical
one could carry, http://www.horsedrawn-carriages.com/ did a great job answering those questions.
http://www.historyworld.net/ also provides great information on the history of transportation especially in
the 19th century.
Typing “Charabanc”, “stagecoach”, “One-horse shay” into Wikipedia also provided a lot of information on the
history, use, privacy, number of horses used, and comfort of these vehicles.
The sources above represent a sample of the sources we used along with the novel to answer all of the questions
outlined in step 2 and deliver this document.
Preparation and Data Merging into Technical Report
As the research progressed, a common format for the information gathered on each mode of transportation was
used to put together our technical report.
Each member organized their information into this format, and once all the research was completed, we met and
compiled the information into the technical document.
Making of the Digital Artifact
While there are several options for our digital artifact, we have decided that a Wiki would be the best way to
present our information to a broader audience of Madame Bovary readers. There are many wiki hosting sites
available. However, because of it being free, its relative ease of use, and the many different tools available to us,
we decided to use PBwiki for this project.
The wiki is already online, it is up and running and group members have begun the task to make it deliver what is
outlined in the description of the digital artifact above. One can access it at http://borides.pbwiki.com.
There, one can clearly see how the wiki will incorporate graphics and text as the pages will easily contain both
textual and graphical displays. As for interactivity, all researched vehicles have links connected to them that send
users to other pages containing much more information pertaining to them that answer all the questions of interest
about that vehicle.Another great aspect of the wiki is its search capability. Because of this, users can directly type
the name of the vehicle or term they are looking for in the search box and automatically get results that link them
directly to the corresponding wiki pages.
Also, links to our sources will be provided on the wiki as well allowing users to explore and review those if they
wish.
Elhadj, because of his experience with HTML, and Orlando, because of him being a computer science major thus
creating websites being in his area of expertise helped make the wiki operational.
Each group member added information to the wiki; and James and Jeremiah ensured that the wiki satisfactorily
answers the questions we set out to answer.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Results and Discussion
19th Century French Transportation
Introduction
At the start of the 19th century, the most prevalent mode of transportation was the horse and carriage. Towards
the end of the century, railways came about and greatly improved people's lives when it comes to how far and how
fast they can go. In 19th century France, until the beginning of the 20th century people still relied heavily upon
hoses and carriages for their transportation needs.
Road conditions as described in the novel
People in 19th century France experienced horrendous road conditions and this really bad infrastructure made it
extremely difficult to move around. Passages in the novel such as the following reveal the difficult task it was back
then for both people and vehicles in those localities to get around from one point to another:
To reach the wet nurse's house they had to turn left at the end of the village street, as though going to the
cemetery, and follow a narrow path that led them past cottages and yards between privet hedges. These were in
bloom, and blooming, too, were veronicas and wild roses and nettles and the wild blackberries that thrust out
their slender sprays from the thickets. Through holes in the hedges they could see, in the farmyards, a pig on a
manure pile or cows in wooden collars rubbing their horns against tree trunks. The two of them walked on slowly
side by side, she leaning on his arm and he shortening his step to match hers. In front of them hovered a swarm
of flies, buzzing in the warm air.
This other passage also illustrates the treacherous road conditions in those localities:
In one spot the ground was boggy from the trampling of cattle, and they had to walk on large green stones
that had been laid in the mud. She kept stopping to see where to place her foot, and teetering on an unsteady
stone, her arms lifted, her body bent, a hesitant look in her eye, she laughed, fearing lest she fall into the
puddles.
Stones laying everywhere and unpaved roads certainly make a recipe for a very uncomfortable walk or carriage ride.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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19th century vehicles found in the novel
The following is a summary of the types of vehicles used for locomotion in the 19th century found in the book. More
information on the vehicles can be found on the pages that follow.
The Barouche, Buggy, Chaise, Charabanc, Horse, Landau, One-horse Shay, Old-Gig, Tilbury, Van, and Wagon are all
vehicles that are used to transport people in most cases.
The Coach,and Stagecoach were used as public transportation and to carry goods.
As some passages point out, the Farmcart was used to both carry goods and to carry low-class people in some
instances.
All the afore-mentioned vehicles vary in the number of horses that pull them and their body shape.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Barouche
Description
The Barouche was unique in that the passenger seats were arranged facing each other. It has two double seats with
the front pair turned around facing the back pair. Passengers step up into the space between these seats to get on
the vehicle. This vehicle featured a collapsible hood (calash) top like the Chaise, although it could not cover the
entire vehicle. A driver sits in the front and leads two horses to power this four-wheeled ride. As a formal carriage,
it was common to have ornate brasswork, woodwork, leather, and other marks of luxury in the construction of the
Barouche.
This vehicle was very popular and was often used for fancy, leisurely occasions in the summertime. It would not
typically be used for long journeys or on rough roads, contrary to Emma's plans.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
They were to elope the following month. She would leave
Yonville as though to go shopping in Rouen. Rodolphe was to
arrange for their reservations and their passports, and would
write to Paris to make sure that they would have the coach to
themselves as far as Marseilles. There they would buy a
barouche and continue straight on toward Genoa. She would
send her things to Lheureux's whence they would be loaded
directly onto the Hirondelle, thus arousing no one's suspicions. In all these plans there was never a mention of little
Berthe. Rodolphe avoided speaking of her, perhaps Emma had
forgotten her. (Part 2, Ch 12)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Buggy
Description
A horse and buggy is a simple, light two-person carriage of the 19th and 20th centuries, usually drawn by one or
sometimes two horses. It was made with two wheels in England and the United States, and with four wheels in the
United states as well. It had a folding or falling top. Buggies could easily be hitched and driven by untrained women
and children.
Literary Analysis of its Significance
The buggy is the main source of transportation used by Charles other than his horse in the novel Madame Bovary.
During the first part of the book before Charles marries Emma, he is traveling by horse only. In a couple of passages
during his time with Emma, it shows that Charles recognizes Emma's faeuation with the glamorous life of the books
she reads. Emma reads a lot of books fulfilled with fantasys of people living these great lives with expensive
budgets. Charles buys the buggy as a result of hearing here ask questions from the books. The buggy is cost
inexpensive and very affordable for someone like Charles. It is an upgrade from just riding a horse but not by very
much. It could be called a cheap vehicle. Charles thinks Emma is satisfied, but she really isn't happy with just a
buggy. She still looks at it as a cheap way to travel.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Part 1 Ch.5
And her husband, knowing that she liked to go for drives, bought a second-hand two wheeled buggy. With new
lamps and quilted leather mudguards it looked almost like a tilbury.
(p.38) (transportation sometimes used by Charles instead of riding by horseback)
Part 1 Ch.7
One Wednesday at three in the afternoon, therefore, Monsieur and Madame Boovary set out in their buggy for La
Vaubyessard, a large trunk tied on behind and a hatbox in front. Charles had another box between his legs.
They arrived at nightfall, just as lanterns were being lit in the grounds to illuminate the driveway.
(Charles drove buggy from Tostes to La Vaubyessard.) (p.54)
Part 1 Ch.8
Charles's buggy drew up before the middle door; servants appeared, then the marquis, who gave the doctor's wife
his arm and led her into the entrance hall.
(Charles arrived at La Vaubyessard.) (p.55-56)
Part 1 Ch.8
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
The slack reins slapped against his rump and grew wet with lather; and the case tied on behind thumped heavily
and regularly against the body of the buggy. (p.64)
13
Part 3 Ch. 5
"One morning just after she had gone, rather lightly cald as usual, there was a sudden snowfall; and Charles, looking
out the window at the wather, saw Monsieur Bournisien setting out for Rouen in Monsieur Tuvache's buggy. So he ran
down with a heavy shawl and asked the priest to give it to Madame as soon as he got to the Croix-Rouge." (Pg 319320)
Part 3 Ch. 5
"Finally, at eleven o'clock, unable to stand it any longer, Charles harnessed hisbuggy, jumped in, whipped the hourse
on, and reached the Croix-Rough at two in the morning." (Pg 325-326)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Chaise
Description
Fast, two-wheeled vehicles drawn by a single horse. These are more or less a seat on wheels with a moveable hood
that can be rigged up to a horse. In fact, the word in French means chair. The version called the post chaise was
used to deliver mail. Sometimes also called a shay.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
She reflected occasionally that these were, nevertheless,
the most beautiful days of her life, the honeymoon days, as
people called them. To be sure, their sweetness would be best
enjoyed far off, in one of those lands with exciting names
where the first weeks of marriage can be savored so much more
deliciously and languidly! The postchaise with its blue silk
curtains would have climbed slowly up the mountain roads, and
the postilion's song would have re-echoed among the cliffs,
mingling with the tinkling of goat bells and the dull roar of
waterfalls. They would have breathed the fragrance of lemon
trees at sunset by the shore of some bay. And at night, alone
on the terrace of a villa, their fingers intertwined, they
would have gazed at the stars and planned their lives. It
seemed to her that certain portions of the earth must produce
happiness, as though it were a plant native only to those
soils and doomed to languish elsewhere. Why couldn't she be
leaning over the balcony of some Swiss chalet? Or nursing
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
her melancholy in a cottage in Scotland, with a husband clad
in a long black velvet coat and wearing soft leather shoes, a
high-crowned hat and fancy cuffs! (Part 1, Ch 7)
Paying no attention to the pharmacist, who was venturing
the hypothesis that "this paroxysm may mark the beginning of
improvement," Canivet was about to give her theriaca when
there came the crack of a whip, all the windows rattled, and
a post chaise drawn at breakneck speed by three mud-covered
horses flashed around the corner of the market place. It was
Doctor Lariviere. (Part 3, Ch 8)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Charabanc
Description
Charabancs were four wheeled vehicles with several long rows of forward-facing seats. They were open and usually
had no roof. Commonly used to take guests on liesurely trips.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
The invited guests arrived early in a variety of
vehicles. One-horse shays, two-wheeled charabancs, old gigs
without tops, vans with leather curtains. And the young men
from the nearest villages came in farm-carts, standing one
behind the other along the sides and grasping the rails to
keep from being thrown, for the horses trotted briskly and
the roads were rough. They came from as far as twenty-five
miles away, from Goderville, from Normanville, from Cany.
All the relations of both families had been asked, old
quarrels had been patched up, letters sent to acquaintances
long lost sight of. (pg 30)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Coach
Description
A coach is a large, four-wheeled carriage with two or more horses harnessed as a team, driven by a coachman. It
had generally four doors in the sides, with most of the time a front and a back seat inside. The driver usually sat
elevated seat in front called a coach box.
Types of Coaches found in the Novel
Some types of Coaches are the Park Drag, the Araba, The Concord Coach, and many more. The Two types of coaches
listed below are found in the novel. To get more information on these vehicles, please click where indicated.
Occurrences in the novel
Part 3 Ch. 11
"When everything was sold, there remained twelve francs and fifteen centimes--enough to pay Mademoiselle
Bovary's coach fare to her grandmother's." (Pg 411)
This quote goes on to reinforce the idea that Coaches were used for transporting people and goods from one
location to another. The fact that it only cost Twelve Francs and fifteen centimes to pay this fare goes on to show
that Coach fares were pretty affordable.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
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Covered Boat
Description
Note: The exact type of boat that was mentioned in the book most likely did not exist. No resources could confirm
the type of craft that was described.
Literary Analysis of Its Significance
The covered boat was used as a motif to bring up Rodolphe and further emphasise Emma's adultrus ways. It is irony
that Leon finds the red ribon that could possibly have belonged to a girl that was courted by Rodolphe. The ribon is
symbolic of Emma; Previously possessed by Rodolphe; Cast away, just as the ribon was, to be found by Leon.
Occurences in the Novel
Part 2, Chapter 3
"At nightfall they returned to the city. The boat followed the shoreline of the islands, and they crouched deep
in its shadow, not saying a word. The square-tipped oars
clicked in the iron oar-locks. It sounded, in the silence,
like the beat of a metronome, and the rope trailing behind
kept up its gentle splashing in the water.
...
She was sitting opposite him, leaning against the wall of
the little cabin, the moonlight streaming in on her through an
open shutter. In her black dress, its folds spreading out
around her like a fan, she looked taller, slimmer. Her head
was raised, her hands were clasped, her eyes turned heavenward.
One moment she would be hidden by the shadow of some willows,
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
the next, she would suddenly re-emerge in the light of the moon
like an apparition.
Leon, sitting on the bottom beside her, picked up a bright
red ribbon.
The boatman looked at it. "Oh," he said, "that's probably
from a party I took out the other day. They were a jolly lot,
all right, the men and the girls. They brought along food and
champagne and music, the whole works. There was one of them,
especially, a big, good-looking fellow with a little mustache,
he was a riot. They all kept after him. `Come on, tell us a
story, Adolphe' . . . or Dodolphe, or some name like that."'
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
19
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
20
Farm-cart
Description
The farm-cart is a two wheeled vehicle used for all kinds of farmwork. The farm-cart could be transferred and used
with other cart bodies.
Literary Analysis of its Significance
The Farm-cart is mentioned during Emma's wedding. Some of the younger less established visitors like the young
men used farm-carts to attend the wedding. It shows that everyone that could attend the wedding came to the
wedding because farm-carts weren't a very popular carriage back then.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Part 1 Ch.4
The invited guests arrived early in a variety of vehicles-- one-horse shays, two-wheeled
charabancs, old gigs without tops, vans with leather curtains; and the young men from the
nearest villages came in farm-carts, standing one behind the other along the sides and grasping
the rails to keep from being thrown, for the horses trotted briskly and the roads were rough.
They came as far as twenty-five miles away, from Goderville, from Normanville, from Cany.
(p.30) (used by visitors that traveled to Charles and Emma wedding)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
21
Hirondelle
Description
The Hirondelle is the most mentioned transportation vehicle in the novel. It is an old, yellow-colored Stagecoach
with four benches on the inside, and places for people to sit on its outside.
Coaches in general have a heavy body suspended on springs and equipped with side doors and front and rear
benches; a roof which forms part of the body; and an elevated seat that the driver uses, which is attached to the
front of the body. Coaches were used for transporting passengers and goods.
For the Hirondelle here in particular, its driver is "Hivert" and it carried people daily from Yonville to Rouen and
back. It left Yonville early every morning and arrived back to Yonville at 6 pm.
Literary Analysis of Its Significance
"Hirondelle" is the french word for a type of bird called a "Swallow". Swallows are excellent fliers that can easily fly
upwards of 24 miles per hour. Now to use this name to refer to a very old, slow vehicle is somewhat ironic as the
name represents everything the actual vehicle is not. Hirondelles are light, fast, nice looking birds which can travel
long distances without worrying about food or getting tired. On the other hand, this vehicle portrayed here is quite
heavy and old; when it gets to a steep hill, some passengers have to get off and walk in order for it to make it, and
the horses that pull it are not of the best breed.
The name of the driver also has some significance. Hivert, without the "t" at the end, in french means "Winter".
"Swallows" are migratory birds which emigrate every winter towards more warm territory.It has also been noted in
the research that in the drafts, Flaubert usually writes "Hiver" without the "t" when referring to the driver. This
might mean that both the vehicle and the driver are meant to imply the discontent that Emma and the people of
Yonville feel with their lives and their longing for a better situation.
Occurrences in the Novel
Part 3 Ch. 4
"He took his dinner in the small dining room, just as in the old days, but alone, without the tax
collector: for Binet, sick of waiting for the Hirondelle, had permanently changed his mealtime to an
hour earlier, and now dined on the stroke of five. Even so he never missed a chance to grumble that
"the rusty old clock was slow" (Pg 305)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
22
Part 3 Ch. 5
"The Hirondelle set off at a gentle trot, and for the first mile or two kept stopping here and there
to take on passengers who stood watching for it along the road, outside their gates. Those who had
booked seats the day before kept the coach waiting: some, even, were still in their beds and Hivert
would call, shout, curse, and finally get down from his seat and pound on the doors. The wind
whistled in through the cracked blinds.
Gradually the four benches filled up, the coach rattled along, row upon row of apple trees
flashed by; and the road, lined on each side by a ditch of yellow water, stretched on and on,
narrowing toward the horizon.
Emma knew every inch of it: she knew that after a certain meadow came a road sign, then an
elm, a barn, or a roadmender's cabin; sometimes she even shut her eyes, trying to give herself a
surprise. But she always knew just how much farther there was to go.
Finally the brick houses crowded closer together, the road rang under the wheels, and now
the Hirondelle moved smoothly between gardens: through iron fences were glimpses of statues,
artificial mounds crowned by arbors, clipping yews, a swing. Then, all at onces, the city came into
view." (Pg 310)
Part 3 Ch. 7
"...when she reached the Croix-Rough, to see the good old Monsieur Homais. He was watching a
case of pharmaceutical supplies being loaded onto the Hirondelle, and in his hand he carried a
present for his wife--six cheminots wrapped in a foulard handkerchief" (Pg 352)
Part 3 Ch. 9
"At six o'clock there was a clanking in the square. It was the Hirondelle arriving, and he stood
with his head against the windowpanes, watching all the passengers get out, one after the other.
Felicite put down a mattress for him in the parlor, and he threw himself on it and fell asleep" (Pg
387)
Part 3 Ch. 11
"The blind man, whom his salve had not cured, had resumed his beat on the hill at BoisGuillaume, where he told everyone about the pharmacist's failure--to such a point that Homais,
whenever he went to the city, hid behind the Hirondelle's curtains to avoid meeting him face to face.
He hated him. He must get rid of him at all costs, he decided, for the sake of his own reputation; and
he launched an underhand campaign against him in which he revealed his deep cunning and his
criminal vanity..." (Pg 404)
Days of operation of the Hirondelle
"Every day for a month Hivert transported for him, from Yonville to Rouen and from Rouen to Yonville, trunks,
valises and bundles. And after Leon had had his wardrobe restocked and his three armchairs reupholstered and
had bought a whole new supply of foulard handkerchiefs, after he had made more preparations than for a trip
around the world, he kept putting off his departure from week to week, until he received a second letter from his
mother urging him to be on his way, since he wanted to pass his examination before the summer vacation."
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
23
Horse
Description
A member of the family Equidae. Horses are Herbivorous mammals. They comprise a single speces, Equus caballus,
and come in a number of varieties called breeds. Before the industrial revolution and still in much of the
undeveloped world the horse is used for work, used as a draft animal and for transportation. Today in modern
countries horses are primarly used as a pastime such as horseback riding, jumping, and racing.
Literary Analysis
In the novel we see Charles use his horse often to reach his clients. It is also used by Emma's father to get to
Yonville when he hears of his daughter's death. Often times horses are riden because of how easy it is to get ready
and the speed at which the horse travles without dragging something behind it.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Part 3 Ch. 10
"He put on his smock and his hat, fastened a spur to his boot, and set off at a gallop; and
during the entire length of his breathless ride he was frantic with anguish. At one point he had
to stop and dismount: he couldn't see, he heard voices, he thought he was losing his mind.
At daybreak he caught sight of three black hens asleep in a tree, and he shuddered,
terrified by the omen. He promised the Holy Virgin three chasubles for the church, and vowed
to walk barefoot from the cemetery at Les Bertaux to the chapel at Vassonville.
He rode into Maromme, shouting ahead to the people at the inn, burst open the gate with
his shoulder, dashed up to the oats bag, poured a bottle of sweet cider into the manger; then
he remounted his nag, and it was off again, striking sparks from all four shoes.
...
At Quincampoix he drank three coffees in a row to fortify himself.
...
He even began to imagine that it might be a practical joke, an attempt to get even with him
for something, or a wag's idea of a prank. Besides--if she was dead, he'd know it! But no--the
countryside was as always: the sky was blue, the trees were swaying; a flock of sheep crossed
the road. He caught sight of the village; people saw him racing by, hunched over his hrse,
beating it furiously, its saddle girths dripping blood" (Pg 394-395)
"Well, I called on Monsieur Alexandre this afternoon. He bought a filly a few years ago and she's
still in fine shape, just a little broken in the knees. I'm sure I could get her or a hundred ecus . . ."
And he went on, "I thought you might like to have her, so I reserved her . . . I bought her . . . Did I
do right? Tell me."
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
24
Landau
Description
A Landau is a four-wheeled carriage that seats four people on two facing seats with an elevated front seat for the
coachman. It was distinguished by two folding hoods, one at each end, which met at the top to form a boxlike
enclosure with side windows. It was a lightweight vehicle, that was usually drawn by four horses. Its windows could
be dropped tom make it an open carriage in the summer. Landaus were pretty expensive vehicles and as such were
owned by rich individuals in 19th century France, and certainly admired by the masses.
Literary Analysis of Its Significance
Using The ceremonial arrival of the Prefectural Councelor at the Agricultural Fair in a Landau, Flaubert reveals how
people in the 19th century view this vehicle. Peasants standing in awe, almos fighting just to get a glompse of the
vehicle. This shows that Landaus were extremely well looked upon back in the 19th century. Only wealthy people,
or those somewhat high ranking officials could afford to own or even ride in a Landau. It is important to note how
Flaubert describes the horses that were pulling the Landau however. Here we have this extremely nice vehicle, but
at the same time, we have dawdling, emaciated, skinny horses pulling it. This therefore greatly takes away from
the greatness of the vehicle because a carriage is only as fast and effective in getting its rider to destination as the
horses that are pulling it.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
It was a false alarm. The prefect wasn't even in sight, and the members of the jury were in a quandary, not
knowing whether to begin the proceedings or wait a while longer.
Finally at the far end of the square appeared a big hired landau drawn by two skinny horses who were being
furiously whipped on by a white-hatted coachman. Binet had just time to shout, "Fall in!" and the colonel to echo
him. There was a rush for the stacked rifles, and in the confusion some of the men forgot to button their
collars.
But the official coach-and-pair seemed to sense the difficulty, and the emaciated beasts dawdling on their
chain, drew up at a slow trot in front of the portico of the town hall just at the moment when the national guard
and the fire brigade were deploying into line to the beating of the drums.Then there emerged from the carriage a
gentleman clad in a short, silver-embroidered coat, his forehead high and bald, the back of his head tufted, his
complexion wan and his expression remarkably benign. His eyes, very large and heavy-lidded, half shut as he
peered at the multitude, and a
the same time he lifted his sharp nose and curved his sunken mouth into a smile. He recognized the mayor by his
sash, and explained that the prefect had been unable to come. He him
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
self was a prefectural councilor, and he added a few words of apology. Tuvache replied with compliments, the
emissary declared himself unworthy of them, and the two officials stood the
25
face to face, their foreheads almost touching, all about them the members of the jury, the village council, the
local elite, the national guard and the crowd.
Hippolyte, the stableboy at the hotel, came to take the horses from the coachman, and limping on his clubfoot he
led them through the gateway of the Lion d'Or, where a crowd of peasants gathered to stare at the carriage.
There was a roll of the drums, the howitzer thundered, and the gentlemen filed up and took their seats on the
platform in red plush armchairs
loaned by Madame Tuvache
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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26
Gig
Description
A gig is a light, two-wheeled sprung cart pulled by one horse. It is more formal than a village cart or a meadowbrook
cart. It was sometimes used for carriage racing.
Literary Analysis of Its Significance
The gig was mentioned during Charles and Emma's wedding. Emma enjoyed taking part in and being a part of
elegant events such as weddings and ballroom dances. While reading Madame Bovary, the reader can infer that
Emma would want important people attending the wedding. The gig is a more formal vehicle that signifies some sort
of importance. Madame Bovary states that many visitors arrived at the wedding in vehicles like the gig, charabanc,
etc. One may infer that the person driving the gig would be of much importance because it only seats one person,
and during this time it was one of the fastest and most prestigous type horse carriages.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Part 1 Ch.4
The invited guests arrived early in a variety of vehicles-- one-horse shays, two-wheeled charabancs, old gigs
without tops, vans with leather curtains; and the young men from the nearest villages came in farm-carts,
standing one behind the other along the sides and grasping the rails to keep from being thrown, for the horses
trotted briskly and the roads were rough. They came as far as twenty-five miles away, from Goderville, from
Normanville, from Cany.
(p.30) (used by visitors that traveled to Charles and Emma wedding)
Maitre Guillaumin was to drive Leon to
Rouen in his carriage.... Ahead he saw his employer's gig in the road, and beside
it a man in an apron holding the horse. Homais and Maitre
Guillaumin were talking together, waiting for him.
The apothecary embraced him, tears in his eyes. "Here's
your overcoat, my boy. Wrap up warm! Look after yourself!
Take it easy!"
"Come, Leon, jump in!" said the notary.
Homais leaned over the mudguard, and in a voice broken
by sobs gulped the sad...
They were gathering in the west, in the direction of
Rouen, twisting rapidly in black swirls. Out from behind
them shot great sun rays, like the golden arrows of a hanging
trophy, and the rest of the sky was empty, white as porcelain.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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27
Then came a gust of wind, the poplars swayed, and suddenly the
rain was pattering on the green leaves.But soonthe sun came
out again, chickens cackled, sparrows fluttered their wings in
the wet bushes, and rivulets flowing along the gravel carried
away the pink flowers of an acacia. "Ah, by now he must be far away!" she thought.
Part 2 Ch 11:
It was quite an event in the village, that mid-thigh
amputation by Doctor Canivet! All the citizens rose early
that morning, and the Grande-Rue, thronged though it was, had
something sinister about it, as though it were execution day.
At the grocer's, Hippolyte's case was discussed from every
angle. None of the stores did any business. And Madame
Tuvache, the mayor's wife, didn't budge form her window, so
eager was she not to miss the surgeon's arrival.
He drove up in hisgig, holding the reins himself. Over
the years the right-hand spring had given way under the weight
of his corpulence, so that thecarriagesagged a little to one
side as it rolled along. Beside him, on the higher half of
the seat cushion, could be seen a huge red leather case, its
three brass clasps gleaming magisterially.
The doctor drew up in the hotel yard with a flourish and
called loudly for someone to unharness hismare, and then went
to the stable to see whether she was really being given oats
as he had ordered. His first concern, whenever he arrived at
a patient's, was always for hismareand hisgig. "That
Canivet, he's a character!" people said of him. And they
thought the more of him for his unshakable self-assurance.
The universe might have perished to the last man, and he
wouldn't have altered his habits a jot.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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28
Travel by Foot
Description
When you've got no other way to get there, you probably have at least your own two feet as is the case with the
beggar in Madame Bovary. By my estimates using an online walk time calculator including information about the
beggar's fitness, it would have taken the beggar at least 13 hours to hike from Rouen to Yonville.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Various
Yonville-l'Abbaye (even the ruins of the ancient capuchin abbey from which it derives its name are no longer
there) is a market town twenty miles from Rouen, between the highways to Abbeville and Beauvais in the valley
of the Rieule. (Part 2, Ch 1)
One morning when Charles had gone out before sunrise she was seized with a longing to see Rodolphe at
once. She could go quickly to La Huchette, stay there an hour, and be back in Yonville before anyone was up. The
thought made her pant with desire, and soon she was halfway across the meadow, walking fast and not looking
back. (Part 2, Ch 9)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
29
One-horse shay
Description
Very similar to the Chaise. It's also a light, fast vehicle that is more or less a chair on wheels pulled by a horse.
In fact, sources consider the One-horse Shay to merely be the American version of the French Chaise. Perhaps the
anomaly of seeing this in a French book can be considered a result of a less-than-ideal translation.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
The invited guests arrived early in a variety of vehicles. One-horse shays, two-wheeled charabancs, old gigs
without tops, vans with leather curtains. And the young men from the nearest villages came in farm-carts,
standing one behind the other along the sides and grasping the rails to keep from being thrown, for the horses
trotted briskly and the roads were rough. They came from as far as twenty-five miles away, from Goderville, from
Normanville, from Cany. All the relations of both families had been asked, old quarrels had been patched up,
letters sent to acquaintances long lost sight of. (pg 30)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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30
Stagecoach
Description
The Stagecoach is a type of Coach that is a four-wheeled enclosed vehicle strongly sprung and drawn by four horses.
The stagecoach is a heavy slow moving vehicle that was supported by thoroughbraces. Thoroughbraces were leather
straps. The stagecoach held over eight plus people. The poorer lower class would ride on top of the vehicle. Some
people would strap on and ride to the back, and the first and second class rode inside of the stagecoach most of the
time.
Literary Analysis of its Significance
The passages in which Flaubert uses "Stagecoach" reveal that this vehicle can not only be used to transport people
and their belongings, but it was also used to also carry packages from one location to another as shown in the quote
below. Also, the price of this vehicle were not something regular people in 19th century France could afford. So
Stagecoaches must have been owned by wealthy people or the government in those times. However, from the
research and even from the novel, because these vehicles were used to transport people and goods from one
location to another and the fare was affordable to many people, most riders of stagecoaches were middle or lowerclass people. The rich owned their own vehicles back then and would certainly not use public transportation.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Part 1 Ch.1
To save him money, his mother sent him a roast of veal each week by the stagecoach, and off this he lunched
when he came in from the hospital, warming his feet by beating against the wall. (p.11)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
31
Tilbury
Description
The tilbury was a light, open, two-wheeled carriage with or without a top. Its wheels were large and moved fast
over rough roads. It was often considered a cheep, fast, light, and dangerous vehicle. The back was a spindle back
seat with curved padded backrests. The tilbury is a modification of the Gig that was developed in the 17th century.
The design of the tilbury was developed in france by Fitzroy Stanhope.
Literary Analysis of Its Significance
Tilburys were luxury vehicles by 19th century standards. The BMW or Mercedes of France in the 1800's. We can
derive this from Emma seeing the Vicomte. A vehicle is described earlier as looking "almost" like a Tilbury because
of new lamps and some leather seats, Luxury items in that time period.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Part 1 Ch. 5
And her husband, knowing that she liked to go for drives, bought a second-hand two wheeled buggy. With new
lamps and quilted leather mudguards it looked almost like a tilbury.
(p.38)
Part 2, Ch 13:
Suddenly a blue tilbury crossed the square at a smart trot. Emma gave a cry, fell abruptly
backwards and lay on the floor.
Rodolphe had decided, after a good deal of thought, to leave for Rouen. Since the Yonville road
was the only route from La Huchette to Buchy, he had to pass through the village, and Emma had
recognized him in the glow of his carriage lights as they flashed in the gathering dusk like a streak of
lightning.
Part 3 Ch. 7
"'Watch out!' The cry came from within a porte-cochere that was swinging open; she stopped,
and out came a black horse, prancing between the shafts of a tilburry. A gentleman in sables
was holding the reins. Who was he? She knew him.... The carriage leapt forward and was gone.
The vicomte! It was the vicomte! She turned to stare: the street was empty. And the
encounter left her so crusehd, so immeasurably sad, that she leaned against a wall to keep
from falling." (Pg 352)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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Van
Description
Vans were larger vehicles used for business. They were either used for moving supplies and goods or people. Some
vans could convert from one to the other. Early vans were used as busses. A modern day analog to 19th century vans
would be the moving van, UPS truck, FedEx Trucks, and the like. Vans were used in the transport of goods that were
weather sensitive because of their coverings.
Literary Analysis of Its Significance
Vans were used as a supporting description of two situations. The village celebration where they included vans to
show the variety of different modes of transportation that were used to get to the celebration. Vans were also used
to describe the side streets Emma used to avoid being seen walking to the Hotel in Rouen.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Part 1 Ch.4
The invited guests arrived early in a variety of vehicles-- one-horse shays, two-wheeled charabancs, old gigs
without tops, vans with leather curtains; and the young men from the nearest villages came in farm-carts,
standing one behind the other along the sides and grasping the rails to keep from being thrown, for the horses
trotted briskly and the roads were rough. They came as far as twenty-five miles away, from Goderville, from
Normanville, from Cany.
(p.30) (used by visitors that traveled to Charles and Emma wedding)
Part 3 Ch. 5
"For fear of being seen, she usually didn't take the shortest way. She would plunch into a maze of
dark alleys, and emerge, hot and perspiring, close to the fountain at the lower end near the Rue
Nationale. This is the part of town near the theatre, full of bars and prostitutes. Often a van rumbled
by, laden with shaky stage-sets. Aproned waiters were sanding the pavement between the tubs of
green bushes. There was a smell of absinth, cigars and oysters." (Pg 311
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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33
Wagon
Description
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by animals such as horses, mules, or oxen. Before the advent of
mechanization wagons were used for transportation of people or goods. Wagons are different from carts which have
two wheels and are heavier than carriages. Think of wagons as old school trucks. There are the small ones that seat
only two people and carry a few hundred pounds and large wagons that carry upwards of a ton and seat multiple
people.
Literary Analysis of Its Significance
This was used to portray the difference in vehicles that people from different social classes ride in. The quote below
depicts the description of this vehicle. Low-class people were riding in these wagons that were so slow that even
one of the oldest and slowest vehicles among all those mentioned, the Hirondelle, was about to overtake them.
Appearances in Madame Bovary
Part 3 Ch. 5
"A kind of intoxication was wafted up to her from those closely packed lives, and her heart
swelled as though the 120,000 souls palpitating below had sent up to her as a collective
offereing the breath of all passions she supposed them to be feeling. In the face of the
vastnessher love grew larger, and was filled with a turmoil that echoed the vague ascending
hum. All this love she, in turn, poured out--onto the squares, onto the tree-lined avenues, onto
the streets; and to her the old Norman city was like some fabulous capital, a Babylon into
which she was making her entry. She leaned far out the window and filled her lungs with air;
the three horses galloped on, there was a grinding of stones in the mud beneath the wheels;
the coach swayed; Hivert shouted warningly ahead to the wagons he was about to overtake,
and businessmen leaving their suburban villas in Bois-Guillaume descended the hill at a
respectable pace in their little family carriages" (Pg 310-311)
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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34
Trips
The following is trip information for trips that took place in Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert. All Distances are
estimated due to lack of information on 19th century roads.
Trips by Charles (trips by Charles were on horseback or by buggy)
Tostes to Les Bertaux-15miles on horseback
Tostes to La Vaubyesbarrd- 3afternoon to nightfall by buggy
Rouen to Yonville-20 miles
Other Trips
Normanville, Goderville, Cany to Les Bertaux- as far as 25miles away (some of the visitors that came to the wedding
took these trip)
Emma's trips by foot from her house in Yonville to Rodolphe's Chateau
Trip Times for some Modes of Transportation
Trip
Across GT Campus - 1 mile
Yonville to Rouen - 20 miles
*depends on how often you stop to
Barouche
12 minutes
4 hours
rest
Chaise
6 minutes
2 hours
Charabanc
12 minutes
4 hours
On foot
20 minutes
7-12 hours*
Trips that raise questions
The Covered boat trip that Emma and Leon took in Boulogne has a few discrepancies. First, the boat that they hire
to take them to the restaurant seems too large to be powered by one man. It also seems to be traveling much faster
than one would think possible. "rope trailing behind kept up its gentle splashing in the water." On top of this
Flaubert compares the sound of the boat man rowing to the sound of a metronome. Even in rowing competitions the
paddling is not that fast. Think of the stereotypical "stroke.......stroke.....stroke....". This would be believable if
the boat that Emma and Leon had rented was a small streamlined craft. However, it seems that the boat that they
rented had a cabin capable of carrying 3-4 people as the boatman mentions:
"They were a jolly lot,
all right, the men and the girls. They brought along food and
champagne and music, the whole works. There was one of them,
especially, a big, good-looking fellow with a little mustache,
he was a riot. They all kept after him."
A boat of this size would be almost impossible to manage with one rower. Not stopping there it turns out that the
city of Boulogne, France is on the water, but has no islands. The closest thing to an island near Boulogne is the UK
which happens to be about 25 miles away from the coast. It would not be out of the question to assume that
Flaubert had never been to Boulogne, used unreliable sources or just creating a romatic place for Leon and Emma to
have a romantic "3 day honeymoon".
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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35
Fact Summary
Barouche
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 2-5 People
Average Speed: 5 mph
Power: 2-4 Horses
Cost: 3830 francs in 1864, or about $12,313.27 today
Buggy
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 2 People
Average Speed: 3 miles/hr
Power: 1-2 Horses
Cost: $25-$30 during book setting; about $900 today
Chaise
•
•
•
Capacity: 1-2 Persons
Average Speed: 10 mph
Power: 1 Horse
Charabanc
•
•
•
Capacity: 6-20 Persons
Average Speed: 5mph
Power: 2-6 Horses
Coach
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 8 or more people
Average Speed: 4 miles per hour on average
Power: 4 horses
Cost: Around $1500 in the 19th century or about $25,000 now
Covered Paddle Boat
•
•
•
•
•
Speed: Slow
Capacity: up to 5 people
Crew: 1
Power: Human
Method of Propulsion: Oars
Farm-cart
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 2-3 people or 600-1200 lbs depending on the quality of the cart
Average Speed: 5-9 miles/hr
Power: 1 horse
Cost: about $225 today
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Hirondelle
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 8+people
Average Speed: 4 miles per hour
Power: 4 horses
Cost: $1200 to $1500 back in the 19th century, or about $25,000 now
Horse
•
Capacity: 1-2 People or 200 - 600 lbs (depending on horse)
Average Speed: Greatly depends on horse and load. Up to 50mph with racehorses.
Power: 1 Horse
Cost: average horse $10 - $50 (1850) $250-$1250 (2007) , Good bloodlined horse $100 - $1000
•
(1850) $2500-$25000(2007)
Distance: 20-30 miles per day
•
•
•
Landau
Capacity: 4 people
Average Speed: ~ 6 miles per hour
Power: 2 horses
•
•
•
Gig
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 1-2 People
Average Speed: 6 miles/hr
Power: 1 Horses
Cost: about $9,000
Travel by Foot
•
•
•
Average Speed: 3mph, varies with personal fitness and load carried
Range: Varies widely with personal fitness, supplies, stops, etc. 20-150 miles in a day.
Power: 2 legs
One-horse shay
•
•
•
Capacity: 1-2 People
Average Speed: 10mph
Power: 1 Horse
Stagecoach
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 8+ People
Average Speed: 4 miles/hr
Power: 4 Horses
Cost: $1200-1500 back in the 19th century or about $24,995 today
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Tilbury
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 1-3 People
Average Speed: 7 mph
Power: 1 Horse
Cost: $5,695 (2007)
Van
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 1-2 (goods configuration) 5-15 (bus configuration)
Average Speed: 5 mph
Power: 1-4 Horses
Cost: $15,000 (2008)
Wagon
•
•
•
•
Capacity: 1-2 People, 500-2000 lbs or more depending on wagon design
Average Speed: 5 mph
Power: 1-6 Horses or Oxen (depending on size)
Cost: $6,995
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
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Conclusion
Knowledge of what transportation was like in the setting of Madame Bovary is just one piece of information
Flaubert wouldn’t have had to explain to someone who lived in his day in France, but it is a critical gap in the
knowledge of a modern reader. We have hereby created what is a highly accessible resource to fill this gap in
knowledge for readers. Contrary to what we first thought, the amount of time that was invested per group
member for this project was enormous; however, the almost non-existent financial cost required made this
report feasible, and its benefits to modern readers of “Madame Bovary” outweighed its negative aspects and
made it worth undertaking.
We have discovered that people living in 19th century France employed a large variety of vehicles to suit various
purposes. We’ve also realized that knowledge of these vehicles can allow the reader to have a greater insight
into the character of the various people we are introduced to in Madame Bovary, from their wealth to their
practicality. A person primed with our knowledge of travel in this era will have an understanding of an important
aspect of the day to day life of the people in Flaubert’s book and thus gain a greater appreciation of the novel.
Recommendations
The research we have done so far is a great basis for people interested in Madame Bovary. Given the fact that
the information is available on a Wiki, people can easily access and add information about the locations,
vehicles, prices, and much more; in a word greatly expand the level of knowledge that is accessible to readers of
this wonderful piece of art which is Madame Bovary. A way to vastly improve readers' understanding of Madame
Bovary is to use the online version of the text and link all the vehicle names and difficult transportation terms
directly to their pages on our wiki. This way, a person can just directly click on the word in the online text and
get all the great valuable information available on our Wiki. All sections on the wiki can also be expanded, more
information can be added about 19th century French transportation, about the vehicles,and more. Ultimately,
this Wiki can be the main authority on the web when it comes to 19th century French Transportation in general
and Transportation in Madame Bovary in particular.
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
39
Glossary
Barouche – four-wheeled horse drawn carriage with two double seats on the inside so that the sitters on the front
seat face those on the back seat
Hirondelle – simple transportation route that traveled from Yonville to Rouen daily
Coach – large closed four-wheeled carriage drawn by two or more horses, usually included side doors with a front
and back seat
Stagecoach – four wheeled enclosed coach drawn by four horses
Gig – light two-wheeled sprung cart pulled by one horse
Carriage – wheeled vehicle usually horse drawn that can be utilized for many different activities like transporting
goods, a public passenger vehicle, etc.
Tilbury – light opened wheeled carriage with or without a top that usually has one seat (very fast moving vehicle)
Coachman – man’s job to drive a horse drawn coach
Nag – a small female horse; pony
Cab – light two wheeled vehicle drawn by a single horse; any carriage for hire; cabman driving from a high seat at
the rear
Gallop – very much like the canter, but it is faster and covers more ground; fastest gait of the horse averaging 25-30
miles per hour
Trot – two beat gait with a variety of speeds; same speed as an adult human can run, about 8 miles per hour
Walk – a four beat gait that averages about 4 miles per hour
Canter – controlled three beat gait usually faster than a trot but slower than a gallop
Landau – four wheeled open carriage with facing seats over a dropped foot well
Horses – large odd toed mammal with four legs
Riding horses – horses trained to be rode by people that are generally of the class of a warmbloods or
thoroughbreds
Filly – young female horse to young to be called a mare usually under the age of four
Horseback – the way of riding or traveling by horse (called traveling horseback)
Farm-cart – two-wheeled vehicle used for all types of farm work usually drawn by one horse
Van – A commercial vehicle used in the 19th century.
Mill-horse – A horse specifically trained to turn a mill
Cart-horse – A horse specifically trained to pull a cart
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
White mare – adult female horse that is the color white
Black horse – a horse the color black
One-horse shay – light, covered two wheeled carriage for two people drawn by a single horse
Covered boat – a boat with a cover that Emma and Leon take out
Wagon - heavy covered four wheeled vehicle drawn by horses, mules, or oxen
Buggy – light two person carriage usually drawn by one or two horses
Smock – outer garment worn by rural workers
Spur – metal tool on the heels of riding boots for directing a horse
Manger – box of carved stone/wood used to hold food for animals; stable
Shoe (horse) – U-shaped metal nailed to the hooves of horses
Saddle girth – piece of equipment used to keep the saddle in place on a horse or other animal
Chaise – two or four wheeled carriage used for pleasure traveling
Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary
40
Bah, Greenhill, James, Orlando
41
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Technical Report on Transportation in Madame Bovary