The story came out in a collection of three, aptly titled Three Tales, and all of them got great reviews at the time. Some even say that "A Simple Heart" is Flaubert's best work, so if you want to save yourself some time, skip the novels and read the story. Although we're pretty sure you'll want to read the rest of his stuff once you've gotten a taste. The story is an important example of Realism, because it focuses on the little guy (in this case, the little gal, a servant) rather than a grand hero, and looks at the way pesky stuff like illness is the result of socioeconomic factors.