first published in 1877 these three stories are dominated by questions of doubt love loneliness and religious experience together they confirm flaubert as a master of the short story a simple heart also published as a simple soul relates the story of flicit an uneducated servingwoman who retains her catholic faith despite a life of desolation and loss the legend of saint julian hospitator inspired by a stainedglass window in rouen cathedral describes the fate of a sadistic hunter destined to murder his own parents the blend of faith and cruelty that dominates this story may also be found in herodias a reworking of the tale of salome and john the baptist