these stories go beyond your average collection of horror tales, and it isn't hard to tell that maupassant was going over the edge when he penned these. they are less focused on the supernatural than on the chilling capability the human mind has to construct terrifying illusions and reduce the most rational and cerebral man to a shivering mass. you could almost call these philosophical in that maupassant remorselessly exposes the tenuous and fragile nature of our mental health and reminds us that insanity is a potential danger for the more thoughtful and sensitive. this is personally my favorite work as far as maupassant's stuff goes, and anyone with a taste for the morbid, pessimistic or terrifying is well advised to pick this one up right away, although it is pretty rare nowadays and difficult to locate. i took it out of my local library. those who are interested in the field of philosophy should enjoy the brief but somewhat humorous tale, "the smile of schopenhauer", which amuses but at the same time inspires fear. if you're interested in abnormal psychology this is also a must read for you. the creme de la creme of horror literature.

DeMaupassant's unparalled insight into the human condition is strongly in evidence in these tales. Some of the most powerful evocations of fear and pathos even penned, this is in a completely different league from Stephen King and his ilk: it is literature in the best sense.

De Maupassant wrote horror like no one else. His stories are not for the run of the mill Stephen King fan - so if your head isn't screwed down tight, don't attempt this one. However, if you like to hear the brilliant ramblings of a genius-type that's dying of Syphillis, you'll love it!

This is a superb scholarly analysis of the aesthetics of one of the most influential storywriters in world literature. The book is scholarly but, unlike so much of what passes for scholarship today, readable, original, and illuminating. With great thoughtfulness and in lucid prose, the author gets to the heart of Maupassant's story structures, demonstrating their variousness and placing them in the context of Maupassant's career. The author also makes a convincing case for Maupassant's influence on the American short story, beyond the usual cliches about O Henry's misappropriation of Maupassant's methods and the misunderstandings about the "Maupassant surprise ending" (which was an atypical technique and one that was more complex than other critics have understood). For anyone interested in the short story, or in first-rate literary criticism, this is a book worth reading.

Fusco has shrewdly analyzed Maupassant's several structural approaches to short story form, including, among others, his use of forms stressing contrast, "loop" structures (when the end of the story returns attention to things alluded to in the beginning), and of course the "surprise-inversion" technique, Maupassant's famous twist ending. He then goes on to show how American writers like Chopin, Bierce, O. Henry and Henry James were influenced by, or tried to imitate, the French master. This is a thoroughly engaging work by an author with good command of critical tools, and a nice concise writing style.

Mr. Fusco has written a wonderful analysis of the influence of Maupassant on various American authors. After a thorough-going critique of Maupassant's story structures, Fusco illuminates the use of those forms by Ambrose Bierce and Henry James, as well as giving a rather intriguing and funny review of the "adaptation" of Maupassant's style by O. Henry. Useful to both scholars and interested non-academics alike

It's a life what Guy De Maupassant describes in his books, that's why they're immortals.Could the prostitute be a patriot? What does respectable member of society and a killer at the same time feel? What's happening when the person's been blinded by passion? What kind of relationship exists between the ton?Maupassant tells us his stories like great psychologist and very talented writer.And don't miss his really powerful novels "Pier and Jan" and "A life"!I like Stendhal, Zola, Balzak and Dumas but Guy De Maupassant is my favourite French writer!

To write a review on Maupassant is flirting with arrogance. He is one of the all time greats, one whose stories retain their power a century after they were written, and will continue to do for in the millenia to come. Maupassant was a man who lived his life to the full, and was able to translate life to words.

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ESL teachers you don't know what you're missing. Students love this play, get excellent practice with pronunciation, and even become familiar with the Guy de Maupassant original. Lots of humor and a much more satisfying ending than the original.

This is a fantastic story from one of the world's greatest supernatural writer's, and this acourding to Lovecraft! Reminesent of a good Edgar Allen Poe tale, it uses the ploy of double interpitation, the reader never really knows what, if any thing, has happened. It could be real or simply the feverish fantasy of the character's deranged mind. Steeped in mystery, it's primarily about a man, prematurely aged by his erotic obsesion for his young wife, trying to avoid his own death and get someone else to take his place. Naturaly (or un-naturaly) major spookiness ensues. This is a masterpiece of the bizarre, any fan of horror or decadent fiction won't be disapointed.

Guy De Maupassant hit a chord and in its delivery he left nothing too far fetched. All of his "stories" were "cloned" from actual everyday common ocurrences. He knew that reality was stranger than fiction, all he had to do was to pass it on, with the well seasoned ingredients of someone that had not ever lived a dull moment. He was from Normandy, my ancestors birthplace in France and I in my puberty gained access to my father's "private library" and the literary works by such an author, using a screwdriver to pick the locks, that is why I had to read the English translations to check on its contents and refresh my memory with those wonderful stories, yet said book is now in the hands of those who's failed to treasure it.

Henri Rene Albert Guy de Maupassant was born at Chateau de Miromesnil near Dieppe, Normandy, and educated in Rouen and Yvetot, likewise in that Northern French region bordering on the Channel and the North Sea. Introduced to Gustave Flaubert by his mother, an old friend of Flaubert's, the creator of "Madame Bovary" soon became Maupassant's mentor and in turn, introduced him to Emile Zola, Tourgeniev and other proponents of literary realism. And encouraged by Flaubert, the erstwhile volunteer of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71 eventually turned to journalism and published his first book, a collection of poetry, in 1880. He soon became known as a masterful short story writer, owing the clarity and concise nature of his prose in no small part to the lessons learned from his fatherly friend. Normandy, the beloved land of his childhood and adolescence, plays a dominant role in much of Maupassant's writing; both as a backdrop and as a means of highlighting emotions and plot developments.

In six novels, Maupassant condensed the motifs explored in his numerous short stories, which would ultimately count over 300. "Une Vie" ("A Life") is the first of these novels, published in 1883. It traces the life of Jeanne de Lamare, nee Jeanne des Vauds, only daughter and heiress to the fortune of a Norman aristocrat family, from the moment she leaves her convent school at the age of seventeen, to advanced age and grandmotherhood. Naive by nature and sheltered from the harsh realities of life behind the walls of the convent, young Jeanne's outlook on life upon returning to her parents' chateau on the Norman coast, les Peuples, which she shall eventually inhabit with her husband, is innocently optimistic. Only a few months after her arrival, she falls in love with the viscount de Lamare whom she marries in very short order. But from here on out her life changes rapidly, because once married, her husband drops any pretence at the charm he has displayed while wooing her. Jeanne, wholly unprepared by nature and education to adequately respond to her husband's miserly attitude and multiple forms of abuse, nor finding forceful support in her parents, sees no other way than to passively tolerate his behavior; even when she stumbles into proof after proof of the extent of his transgressions against common decency and against his marital vows. And her son, in his childhood her one remaining pride and joy (and therefore, hopelessly spoiled), once grown to manhood turns out another major disappointment. Jeanne grows disillusioned and bitter, frequently complaining that life has treated her excessively unfairly.

"Une Vie" draws, inter alia, on themes developed in seven short stories published in the years 1881 - 1883. The critically acclaimed novel sold 25,000 copies within the first few months after its publication. It has all the features of the writing style for which Maupassant, by then, had already become known: a crisp prose very much to the point being expressed; a sharp eye for the heroine's social context and the daily life of the Norman aristocracy; a vibrant tableau of Normandy's sea, fields, woods, seasons and weather; wit, irony, and great insight into human nature. From the torrential rain storm which accompanies Jeanne's transition from the convent to her familial chateau at the beginning of the story to a tranquil sunset several decades later when Jeanne finally makes her peace with life, nature is brilliantly used to highlight the heroine's feelings, trials and tribulations.

In her passivity and weakness, Jeanne is not an easy heroine to like or at least, to emphasize with; nor does Maupassant make the point that she had no alternative to her inert tolerance of her husband's and her son's wrongdoings: the image of her bonne Rosalie, pragmatic and down to earth and ultimately much better equipped than Jeanne to deal with life's uncertainties and deceptions, and the example of several other local noblewomen makes it clear that it is Jeanne's character more than anything else that renders her unable to adequately respond to her situation in life and to the abuse she suffers. Yet, Maupassant was not interested in those other women - so little, in fact, that their characterization barely exceeds the level of a superficial sketch; including and in particular the portrayal of the one woman with whom Jeanne's husband is involved in a lasting and profound affair and who claims, nevertheless, to be Jeanne's friend. Similarly, Jeanne's husband is almost two-dimensional in his boorishness. Nevertheless, from the first page on there is no denying that this novel was written by one of the master storytellers of his time.

Guy de Maupassant died at the age of only 43 years, of an illness which drove him to madness and alcohol abuse and rendered him unable to write during the last three years of his life, thus forcing him to leave only fragments of his last two novels, L'Ame Etrangere and L'Angelus. Emile Zola said at his funeral that future generations who, unlike Maupassant's numerous friends, would only know him through his literary work, would come to love him for the eternal love song to life which he sang in his writings. Although given the pessimistic outlook to life taken by its heroine, "Une Vie" is an unlikely candidate to put these words to proof, and although it does not quite reach the brilliance of Maupassant's short stories and later novels, particularly the piercingly accurate and sardonic "Bel Ami," the writer's first novel is the manifestation of a unique talent and, yes, a declaration of love to a life which is after all, as Jeanne's bonne Rosalie muses, "never as good nor as bad as one believes."

I picked this up on a whim - I like de Maupassant, but since the package didn't list which stories were included on the tapes, it was a bit of a gamble. It paid off, though; Anthony Quayle's reading is very good indeed, and the selection includes a number of stories that I hadn't read before. (The label says "Abridged," but as far as I could tell the individual stories were uncut; it might just mean that this is a subset of stories from a published collection.)

Here's the table of contents as I jotted it down:

Tape 1, Side 1:
Lost at Sea
In the Spring
In the Country
Tape 1, Side 2:
In the Country (cont.)
The Umbrella
A Deal
Playing with Fire
Tape 2, Side 1:
Playing with Fire (cont.)
An Encounter
The Hand
Tape 2, Side 2:
The Hand (cont.)
The Hostelry

Some are dark tales, some very funny ("A Deal," which begins in a courtroom during a trial for attempted murder, is unexpectedly hilarious); some, like "In the Country," are both (and rather cynical - the author doesn't seem to *like* people very much; even in the lightest stories, few of the characters come off in a very good light). Other tales are positively eerie; both "The Hand" and "The Hostelry" have appeared in horror anthologies, and the latter is wonderfully evocative of howling blizzards and snowbound isolation, as it grinds towards its icy, grim conclusion...

Guy De Maupassant (1850-1893), if "Bel-Ami" is any indication, must rank as one of the best writers in the history of the western world. Born in Normandy in 1850, Maupassant became a disciple of the French author Flaubert early in life. Guy quit his job with the civil service after publishing his first short story, "Boule de Suif" in 1880. What followed was a phenomenal flurry of 250 short stories and six novels before his premature death from syphilis in 1893. During his short life, Maupassant helped to form the "groupe de Medan," a loosely knit group of naturalist writers headed by Emile Zola. He also worked as a journalist, covering such important events as the French campaigns in Algeria and Tunisia. A hard worker when it came to writing, Maupassant also possessed a zest for life, including a love for the ladies that eventually killed him.

"Bel-Ami" is hardly an original premise. How many books written through the years discuss the idea of a rural man heading to the city to make it big? That is exactly what happens with this book in the form of main character Georges Duroy. After a five-year stint in the French army, Duroy moves to Paris to make his fortune. Regrettably, Duroy is languishing in a lowly job as a railroad clerk until he meets his old army buddy Forestier. From this point forward, Georges is on the fast track to success. Forestier gets him a job at a scandal rag named "La Vie Francaise" where Georges rapidly ascends the ranks from lowly reporter to chief editor. Along the way, Duroy engages in all sorts of amorous adventures with women both high and low on the Paris social register. By the time the story ends, Georges is within sight of the highest positions in French society, all accomplished through sheer cunning and social maneuvering.

There are so many themes running through this sordid tale of the decadent Third Republic that it is impossible to adequately describe them all here. The introduction to this Penguin edition, written by translator Douglas Parmee, does a good job of showing how incidents in Maupassant's life appear in the character of Georges Duroy. The protagonist's rural background, his experience in France's North African expeditions, his work as a reporter and the subsequent expose of the seediness of journalism, the numerous affairs, the social positioning, and the philosophical musings on death are all expressions of Maupassant's personality and activities. I do hope, however, that Maupassant was not as big of a cad as Georges Duroy because this character may be one of the biggest jerks in the history of literature.

You cannot help but hate Duroy. He has little self-control except when he realizes that holding off on a conquest might mean self-advancement. Georges takes his mistress to the same theater where he picks up prostitutes, takes money from people without paying them back, corrupts women of high moral standards, sleeps with his boss's wife, seduces his boss's daughter, and physically assaults his mistress. There is just no way to sympathize with this guy, and the fact that he gains riches and fame is particularly galling to anyone with any sense of decency. But that is the message De Maupassant is trying to convey; that the complete decadence of French society during this time allows the likes of Duroy to succeed, and to succeed with a smile. Witness the scene towards the end of the book when Walter, Duroy's boss, grudgingly accedes his daughter to Georges's slimy scheme. "He will go far," says Walter, with more respect for Duroy's distasteful achievement than disdain for his lack of morals.

Another theme in the book, and one that runs through the pages like a 400-pound gorilla, is hypocrisy. The propensities for backstabbing, lying, and blatant disregard for self-realization in "Bel-Ami" is laugh out loud astonishing. These are shallow, manipulative people without a shred of decency, and Maupassant never passes up an opportunity to expose these despicable people. The hypocritical stance of the characters and situations often vie with powerfully descriptive passages of Paris and the French countryside, which are truly beautiful to read and have probably accounted for thousands of tourist trips to that country. The characters in "Bel-Ami" may be of no account morally, but they move and live in an environment of unsurpassed beauty.

Maupassant's knowledge of his own impending death weighs heavily in the story. Two sections highlight his musings on mortality: the monologue of the poet Norbert de Varenne and the death of Forestier. For the author, his slow deterioration from a disease made death a daily reality. What seemed to worry De Maupassant the most about death was not punishment from God but the idea of nothingness and being forgotten by the living. Of course, death makes no impression on Georges Duroy, who experiences only a moderate twinge over the passing of Forestier before making a play for that man's wife in order to improve his social position.

I am elated that I discovered this author. Guy De Maupassant is a brilliant writer whose early death robbed the world of a great talent. Although his short stories are considered some of the best ever written, do not pass by this novel. I have rarely seen an author who can write about mundane, daily situations with as much aplomb (see the scene about the fencing party as a prime example). De Maupassant's masterful abilities make this ordinary plot strikingly original and I will revisit this author again in the future. You should too.

Maupassant's characters are more real and colourful than those created by any of the other French naturalists. Bel Ami, his first fill length novel, is simply a joy to read. It tells the story a young ex-soldier, fighting for social position and materialism in the rat race of 1870s Paris. This novel could easily be transported to present day and loose nothing of its impact. Scandal, political intrigue and sexual manipulation are described with Maupassant's cutting pessimism, yet beautifully balanced by his black wit and appreciation for the simple joys of life.

I would never have known that Guy de Maupassant wrote novels along with his great short stories if another amazon reader hadn't turned me on to their existence. This novel, reminiscent of Madame Bovary (a male version, you might say) is terrific. You'll get a great deal of description of Paris in the late 19th century with period details worthy of any great novelist. The plot is typical: poor, rural young man from the outskirts (Rouen) has no money and no position in life, but longs to find fame and fortune. Thanks to his manly wiles (he's a natural ladies' man), he manages to sleep his way to the top. Like Madame Bovary, happiness is never really there no matter how much money and power he attains - the more you get, the more you realize that others will always have more. Still, Monsieur Duroy, even at his most calculating retains somewhat of a sympathetic quality that allows us to relate to him and root for his success. Despite its length, this novel is a fast read. One of my favorites of the year.

This ...Dover collection of short stories, written by arguably the best writer ever in the genre, traces the invention of modern short fiction. After Maupassant’s parents divorced, his mother became friends with Gustave Flaubert of the “Madame Bovary” fame. Flaubert committed himself to tutoring the young aristocrat – hence the “de” in his surname – and said of his protégé, “I love him like a son.” What an apprenticeship?

An artist owes much to his or her environment hence the background just volunteered reveals decisive influences that informed Guy’s craft. In turn, Maupassant’s work would influence those of Chekhov, Joyce, James, Babel and Hemingway! Chekhov’s oeuvre then influenced Katherine Mansfield and so on - an impressive literary family tree indeed!

Maupassant, who studied law, was a master of irony and the title story exemplifies that. “The Necklace” and “A Piece of String” (otherwise translated from French as “The String”) are much anthologized. Of the more than 360 short stories he wrote, the nine stories in this collection are well plotted and, like most of his followers, the author avoids imposing any moral judgments on his characters – not even on the prostitute in his sensational first story, “Ball-of-Fat” (“Boule de Suif”). ...- enjoy the dreams!

Dover Thrift books are unreal! Most are only a dollar. Youcan't beat that - even at used bookstores. I looked into this titleafter delving into Harold Bloom's "How to Read and Why". Whilesome of Bloom's opinions are rather biased (he doesn't like Poe -sigh), his recommendation of this and other short stories byMaupassant (The Horla, Mme. Tellier's Establishment - included inthis Dover edition) have merit.

"The Necklace" is not only apoignant reminder of how too great an expectation leads todisaster. It cuts through the social trances of old-age high societyand sheds a realistic light on the pretenses people "put on" (nopun intended) and shed with truth. Maupassant deftly shiftedjuxtaposed characters from one environment to the next to show theeffects change has on creatures of habit and the necessity/importanceof the habits themselves.

The best thing about Dover Thrift is youdon't feel guilty about jotting notes and highlighting the pages. Ihack them up and drag them around wherever I go, thereby keeping myleather bound or hardcovers protected...

I love the Dover Thrift Edition series. I originally bought Kafka's "The Metamorphasis and other Stories" and was delighted by the selction of a few fine representative works by that author. Again, for a shockingly low price, I decided to revisit a story I read many years ago and bought this volume. "The Necklace" is a great tale of irony in which the old adage "no good deed goes unpunished" is illustrated. It is a tale of honorably living up to one's resposibilities and it ends with quite a twist. This was a great read when I was very young and it still is well into my middle age. I recommend the "Thrift Editions," including this one, to quicky and inexpensively build a library of representative works of great writers.