The Ballad of the White Horse--Selected Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant

Author: (French) Guy de Maupassant, translated by Hao Yun, Wang Zhensun
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Maupassant's novels are regarded as exemplary works showcasing the charm of the French language, with their exquisite artistic techniques, fluid natural prose, and pure language. They hold an irreplaceable position in both French and world literary history. His works have been translated into over 100 languages and remain bestsellers to this day. This book selects 49 outstanding works from The Complete Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant, including Boule de Suif, The Necklace, and The Prisoner. Boule de Suif is Maupassant's breakthrough work. Through the portrayal of passengers on a coach during the Franco-Prussian War—a nobleman, a merchant, a politician, a nun, and a prostitute nicknamed "Boule de Suif"—Maupassant captures the attitudes and stances of various social strata in France at the time toward war and adversity. The petty bourgeoisie is one of the most frequently depicted classes in Maupassant's works. The inclusion of The Necklace and The Umbrella in this collection reveals the author's merciless exposure and satire of the petty bourgeoisie's vanity, greed, selfishness, and hypocrisy.
In addition to his renowned novels, Maupassant is also celebrated as a master of short stories, with over 300 works to his name, alongside Anton Chekhov and O. Henry as the "Big Three" of short fiction. This book selects 49 outstanding works from The Complete Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant, including Boule de Suif, The Necklace, The Prisoner, The Umbrella, Riding, and The Rope. These selections broadly reflect the diversity of Maupassant's short story themes, covering all aspects of French social life at the time, allowing readers to appreciate the master's exceptional artistic skills.