Guy De Maupassant

Easton Press Guy De Maupassant books

Bel-Ami - The Collector's Library of Famous Editions - 1968

Tales of Guy De Maupassant - 100 Greatest Books Ever Written - 1977
A Woman's Life - The Collector's Library of Famous Editions - 1993

Franklin Library Guy De Maupassant books

Stories of Guy De Maupassant - Collected Stories of the World's Greatest Writers - 1977
Stories of Guy De Maupassant - 100 Greatest Books of All Time - 1980
Stories of Guy De Maupassant - World's Best Loved Books - 1981

 

 

 

Writer Guy De Maupassant

Guy de Maupassant was a renowned French writer known for his mastery of the short story genre and his keen insights into human psychology and social mores. Born on August 5, 1850, near Dieppe, France, Maupassant grew up in a prosperous bourgeois family. His early life was marked by tragedy, as his parents' marriage ended in divorce when he was just 11 years old, leaving him to be raised by his mother and grandmother. Maupassant initially pursued a career in law, studying at the University of Paris, but his true passion lay in literature. He began writing poetry and short stories in his spare time, eventually catching the attention of the literary establishment with his talent and wit. In 1880, he published his first collection of short stories, "La Maison Tellier," which was well-received by critics and readers alike.

Over the course of his career, Maupassant published over 300 short stories, many of which are considered masterpieces of the genre. His writing is characterized by its economy of language, vivid imagery, and astute psychological insight. Maupassant often explored themes such as love, desire, jealousy, and the human capacity for cruelty and deceit, drawing inspiration from his own experiences and observations of French society. Some of Maupassant's most famous short stories include The Necklace, a cautionary tale about the dangers of vanity and materialism, and Boule de Suif, a satirical critique of bourgeois hypocrisy and social class distinctions. His works are celebrated for their realism, attention to detail, and unflinching portrayal of the human condition. In addition to his short stories, Maupassant also wrote several novels, plays, and travel books, though he is best remembered for his contributions to the short story genre. He was a contemporary and friend of other French literary giants, including Gustave Flaubert and Émile Zola, and his works continue to be studied and admired for their literary merit and cultural significance.

Tragically, Maupassant's later years were marred by mental illness, which was likely exacerbated by syphilis contracted during his youth. He spent his final years in a private asylum in Paris, where he died on July 6, 1893, at the age of 42. Despite his untimely death, Guy de Maupassant's legacy as one of the greatest short story writers in French literature lives on, inspiring readers and writers around the world with his timeless tales of human folly and frailty.

 

How to pronounce Guy De Maupassant

The pronunciation of "Guy de Maupassant" in French would be approximately: "Gee duh Mo-puh-sahn." Here's a breakdown:

"Guy" is pronounced "Gee," with a hard "G" sound as in "go."
"de" is pronounced "duh," with a soft "d" sound followed by a short "uh" sound, similar to the "u" in "butter."
"Maupassant" is pronounced "Mo-puh-sahn." The "Maup" part is pronounced with a nasalized "awn" sound at the end, like the "awn" in "lawn." The "passant" part is pronounced with a silent "t" at the end and the nasalized "ahn" sound as well.

Overall, it's "Gee duh Mo-puh-sahn."