Necklace

Author: (French) Guy de Maupassant / Liu Mingjiu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: "The Necklace" is a masterpiece of the short story genre. No decent collection of short stories in the world fails to include it, and it has even been incorporated into Chinese textbooks. The story is realistic and natural, with a flawless narrative structure, a thrilling plot, and an unexpected ending. The language is concise yet expressive. Among all short stories in the world, it stands as an unparalleled gem. "The Moonlight" embodies both depth and elegance, portraying two attitudes toward life and the conflict between two life philosophies, possessing the profoundness and typicality of a chapter in the history of human thought. In the end, it is the moonlight that "settles things" and "handles things." How beautiful! How divine! The description of the moonlight is hazy and ethereal, rivaling the masterpieces of Impressionist painting! "The Jewels" is also an unexpectedly brilliant work. Tracing the faint clues, like snow covering the tracks, it hides an extremely awkward life story, yet its words are filled with sarcastic thorns. "Boule de Suif" and "Mademoiselle de Maupassant" both deal with the theme of prostitution, seemingly more likely to pique people's natural curiosity. But what is astonishing is that Maupassant, who was known for his vulgar tastes in real life, wrote this theme so cleanly and elegantly. The former is used to express the French people's sentiment for the Franco-Prussian War and their patriotic spirit, making it Maupassant's breakthrough work that brought him fame overnight in France; the latter forms a vivid and lifelike painting, brimming with subtle observations of human nature and humor. Though considered "simple fast food," the five delicacies basically allow you to appreciate the "culinary art" of Maupassant's novels, giving you a delightful aesthetic enjoyment, granting you some authority in literature, novels, and French culture, and at least ensuring that you have culturally refined topics to discuss with friends during gatherings and leisure chats.