Flaubert read too many books, and in consequence some of his own books stagger under the weight of his erudition. He said he'd read some preposterous… - John Banville

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Flaubert read too many books, and in consequence some of his own books stagger under the weight of his erudition. He said he'd read some preposterous number of books to prepare for the writing of Salammbô, and you can feel them dragging the novel down. It would have been much better if he'd made it all up.