Gustave Flaubert (UK: FLOH-bair, US: floh-BAIR, French: [ɡystav flobɛʁ]; 12 December 1821 – 8 May 1880) was a French novelist. Highly influential, he has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country. He is known especially for his debut novel Madame Bovary (1857), his Correspondence, and his scrupulous devotion to his style and aesthetics. The celebrated short story writer Guy de Maupassant was a protégé of Flaubert.
Efter den første puniske krig er Karthago ude af stand til at honorere de løfter, byen har givet sin hær af lejetropper, der gør oprør. En af oprørernes ledere, Mathô, er besat af Salammbô, en præstinde ved Tanits tempel og datter af feltherren Hamilkar Barka. Med hjælp fra en frigiven slave, Spendius, stjæler Mathô zaïmfen, gudinden Tanits hellige slør, og udfordrer Salammbô til at hente det i oprørernes lejr. Men sløret er byens beskytter, og den, der berører det, vil dø.