A Parisian Affair and Other Stories
(Author) Guy de MaupassantSet in the nouveau riche Paris of society women, prostitutes, and playboys; in the Normandy countryside; and on the French Riviera where Maupassant had lived, the thirty-four short stories in this volume are among the most darkly humorous and brilliant in French literature. They focus on the complexity of close relationships: between lovers, as in the poignant fantasy “A Parisian Affair” or the touchingly ironical “The Jewels”; between siblings, as in “At Sea”; and between former partners, as in “Encounter.” They reveal two sides of human nature: its grace and generosity and also, as in “Boule de Suif,” its greed and hypocrisy. Piquant and varied, Maupassant's stories lay humanity bare with deft wit and devastating honesty.
Guy de Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant was a French writer known for his masterpiece "The Necklace," a tale of vanity and consequence. His minimalist writing style and vivid characterizations revolutionized the short story genre, influencing writers like Anton Chekhov. Maupassant's exploration of human nature and social class remain timeless contributions to literature.