Who was Louise Colet in Gustave Flaubert’s life?

Louise Colet was a French poet and novelist who became a significant figure in the life of Gustave Flaubert as his mistress. The two met in July 1846 at the studio of sculptor James Pradier.12

Their relationship was characterized as a "stormy" eight-year liaison that lasted until 1855. During this time, Flaubert addressed a series of letters to Colet, often referring to her as "The Muse". The relationship was ultimately strained by Flaubert’s desire for self-protecting independence and Colet’s jealousy, which made their eventual separation inevitable. Following their estrangement, Colet published a bitter novel titled Lui (1859), which drew upon their past and caused a significant public sensation.12