A Simple Heart is a short tale about Félicité, a poor and devoted servant in a Norman household. Over many decades she works for Madame Aubain and cares for her children, giving her love to a few people and creatures in turn. Her life is plain and often marked by loss, yet Flaubert treats it with respect and tenderness rather than mockery. A parrot comes to matter greatly to her, in a way that is both touching and a little strange. The story is one of Flaubert's most admired pieces, showing his gift for compassion within a restrained style.