# Short Fiction — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Short Fiction by Gustave Flaubert.

- [The Dance of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/the-dance-of-death.md): A poetic dialogue between Death and Satan, where Death laments its eternal, solitary labor of reaping lives and destroying civilizations, while Satan boasts of his own immortal, chaotic influence over empires, hearts, an
- [The Legend of Saint Julian the Hospitaller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/the-legend-of-saint-julian-the-hospitaller.md): The chapter recounts the life of Saint Julian, from his birth and the dual prophecies of his future greatness and his destined parricide, through his violent youth, his marriage to the emperor's daughter, and the tragic 
- [I: The Curse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/i-the-curse.md): Julian is born to a noble couple after a hermit prophesies he will be a saint and a gypsy foretells great bloodshed and glory. Raised in a luxurious castle, he is doted upon and educated. After a hunting curse predicts h
- [II: The Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/ii-the-crime.md): Julian's parents arrive at the castle seeking their son. Julian's wife welcomes them and puts them to bed. Meanwhile, Julian, tormented by his hunting urges, goes into the forest but fails to kill any animals. Returning 
- [III: The Reparation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/iii-the-reparation.md): Julian, after wandering and performing penance, becomes a ferryman on a dangerous river, living in a humble hut. One night, he ferries a leper across the stormy river, shares his food and bed, and warms the leper with hi

> 10 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=short_fiction_22_se_1102kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [A Simple Soul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/a-simple-soul.md)
- [I: Félicité](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/i-f-licit.md)
- [II: The Heroine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/ii-the-heroine.md)
- [III: Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/iii-death.md)
- [IV: The Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/iv-the-bird.md)
- [V: The Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/v-the-vision.md)
- [Herodias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/herodias.md)
- [I: The Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/i-the-palace.md)
- [II: The Voice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/ii-the-voice.md)
- [III: The Banquet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters/iii-the-banquet.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_22_se/chapters