Guy de Maupassant

Tourville-sur-Arques, France

Born 1850 — Died 1893

Biography

Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) was a French writer, remembered as a master of the short story and a leading exponent of naturalism. Born in Normandy, he was a protégé of Gustave Flaubert, who guided his early literary efforts. Maupassant achieved fame rapidly, publishing over 300 short stories, six novels, and several travel books and volumes of verse in a career spanning little more than a decade. His works are characterized by their clarity, realism, and often pessimistic outlook on human nature and society. He depicted the lives of ordinary people, especially the provincial bourgeoisie and the peasantry, with a keen eye for detail and psychological insight. His life was tragically cut short by syphilis, which led to mental illness and an early death.

Selected Thoughts

«The public is composed of a mass of imbeciles who are always ready to believe what the papers tell them.»

«Human love is a strange thing. I don't mean that it cannot exist, but it is very rare, and when it does, it is usually between people who are not in love with each other.»

«The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves—say rather, loved in spite of ourselves.»

Writing Style

Maupassant's writing style is characterized by its economy, precision, and objective realism. He employed a naturalistic approach, portraying characters and situations without overt judgment, often focusing on the mundane details of life. His prose is clear, concise, and direct, with a strong emphasis on plot and psychological nuance. He was a master of the twist ending and built tension effectively, often leading to stark, sometimes cynical, conclusions.

Fort comme la mort

2008

4.1

Pierre et Jean

2015

4.1