Guy de Maupassant

Maupassant 7 ans

Laure Le Poittevin et son fils Guy de Maupassant

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Gustave de Maupassant

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Château de Miromesnil, Tourville-sur-Arques-1000659

Grave of Guy de Maupassant

Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (5 August 1850 – 6 July 1893) was a French writer, remembered as one of the fathers of the modern short story and one of the form's finest exponents. Maupassant was a protégé of Gustave Flaubert and his stories are characterized by economy of style and efficient, effortless denouements. He wrote some 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books, and one volume of verse. His first published story, "Boule de Suif" ("Ball of Fat", 1880), is often considered his masterpiece.

Life

Born in the Château de Miromesnil, near Dieppe, in the Seine-Inférieure (now Seine-Maritime) department of France, Maupassant was the first son of Laure Le Poittevin and Gustave de Maupassant, both from prosperous bourgeois families. When Maupassant was 11, his mother, who was very fond of him, separated from his father. His education was first at the École des Roches in Normandy and then at the lycée in Rouen where he met Gustave Flaubert, a friend of his mother and his literary mentor.

Career

Maupassant's career spanned the pivotal period in French literature between the decline of Romanticism and the rise of Naturalism. His work is often celebrated for its stylistic simplicity and psychological depth. Early in his career, he wrote under the tutelage of Flaubert, who guided him in his writing. Maupassant's narratives frequently explore themes of war, the peasantry, the bourgeoisie, and the decline of morals and values in the Third French Republic.

"Boule de Suif", set during the Franco-Prussian War, was published in the anthology Les Soirées de Médan and received acclaim from both critics and the public. This success encouraged Maupassant to dedicate himself fully to writing. Other notable works include "Le Horla" (1887), a tale of madness and supernatural possession which anticipates aspects of modern horror, and "La Maison Tellier" (1881), a collection that includes some of his most famous stories.

Themes and Style

Maupassant's stories are marked by their use of irony, tight narrative structure, and the underlying humanism that permeates his portrayal of characters. His writing reflects a deep understanding of human nature and the social conditions of his time. The theme of the supernatural, which appears in works such as "Le Horla", showcases Maupassant's interest in the psychological depths of fear and the unknown.

Personal Life and Death

Maupassant's personal life was marked by his struggle with syphilis, which he contracted in his youth. The disease eventually led to his mental decline, and he spent the last years of his life receiving treatment for syphilis-related neurological problems. Maupassant died in Paris in 1893, at the age of 42, and was buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery.

Legacy

Guy de Maupassant's influence on literature is profound. His technique of the short story, with its simplicity, precision, and clarity, has inspired countless writers. His stories have been translated into numerous languages, and he remains one of the most frequently adapted authors for film and television. Maupassant's exploration of the human condition, through both the ordinary and the extraordinary, continues to resonate with readers around the world.