<P><I>Salammbô</I> is a historical novel by Gustave Flaubert whose vivid plot bursts with exoticism high drama and bloody violence. <p>Set in Carthage during the 3rd century BC immediately before and during the Mercenary Revolt which took place shortly after the First Punic War. It's a tale of war between Rome and Carthage. <P>Flaubert describes in detail the Mercenary Revolt and the fight of the Mercenaries against the all-powerful Carthage the theft of the magical Zaimph and the love and hate between the Carthaginian princess Salammbô and the fiercest leader of the Mercenaries Matho. <P>After completing the famous Mme Bovary Flaubert put all his efforts into researching the Punic Wars and completed the historic masterpiece <I>Salammbô</I>. <p>Gustave Flaubert French novelist and short story writer was considered to be a master of style obsessively devoted to finding the right word ('le mot juste') in every piece of literature he produced.<P>An Author's Republic audio production.