Monsieur Homais,
Winner of the French Legion of Honor
Hello and welcome to my website, the personal domain of Monsieur Homais,
apothecary, chemist, philosopher, Renaissance man. I will be your
guide through the fascinating and extraordinary world of my life.
I reside in Yonville-l'Abbaye, near Rouen, a small town made famous by
my notoriety and d numerous accomplishments. I am a beacon of
knowledge
to this fine town. As a middle aged man in the prime
of his life,
my mind is as sharp as a knife, and I maintain a respectable
and flourishing
pharmacy, the pride of the town, just a short step
from the Lion d'Or
Inn. My wife, the handsomest in town, bore
me four amazingly gifted
progeny: Napoleon, Athalie, Franklin, and
Irma. As their names suggest,
they are remarkable children with
potentials equaling the great accomplishments
and French people after
whom they are named--chips off the old block,
if I may add. Also,
under my care is a distant cousin of mine, Justin. To this rambunctious
youth, I have given him: shelter when no one else
would, food when
he was headed for starvation, warmth when he was left
in the cold,
boundless opportunities that few receive. Furthermore,
I am an
award-winning author and journalist; currently, I am the Yonville
liaison
to The Rouen Beacon, an amazing piece of literary work. My
articles
have won much critical acclaim, as have my essays and books. Moreover,
I am a member of several "'scientific societies'" (Flaubert
320), including
the Agricultural Society of Rouen--agricultural section,
pomology subsection.
An illustrious volunteer firefighter and voice
of progress are also
part of my remarkable resume. Though I mainly
stay here in Yonville,
I have been known to grace the town of Rouen, marveling
in the progress
of mankind displayed in this awesome city. By the
way, did I mention
that I have just been awarded the French Legion of
Honor? Truly,
I am "the happiest of fathers, the most fortunate
of men" (320).