Unfortunately, their parents divorced when he was 11 years old and his brother was 5 years old. When . He felt a decided antipathy for this form of life and deliberately engineered his own expulsion for some trivial offense in 1868. Check out this jaw-dropping list of fun facts about Paris to learn more about this city! Actually, Maupassant hated the Eiffel Tower. He devoted his spare time to writing novels and short stories. This was the beginning of the apprenticeship that was the making of Maupassant the writer. (2020, August 28). When Maupassant was in his early 20s, he discovered that he was suffering from syphilis, one of the most frightening and widespread maladies of the age. Boule de suif epitomizes Maupassants style in its economy and balance. Additionally, Maupassant also wrote under several pseudonyms, including Joseph Prunier, Guy de Valmont, and Maufrigneuse. Guy de Maupassant was an important French naturalist writer who was most well known for his short stories. Flaubert would prove to be a major influence on de Maupassant's life and career. A young woman, Mathilde, is born to a low class family. The short stories of writer Guy de Maupassant detail many aspects of French life in the 19th century. As we know that Maupassant lived with his mother and brother after his parent seperated. He moved to the lyce at Le Havre and passed his baccalaureate the following year. This, Maupassant's first piece of short fiction set during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, was followed by short stories such as "Deux Amis", "Mother Savage", and "Mademoiselle Fifi". They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He is remembered as a master of the short story form. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In 1887, he came out with the short horror story titled, Le Horla'. Sattar, Atia. 9) He also wrote under several pseudonyms. Your email address will not be published. Search. Maupassant penned his own epitaph: "I have coveted everything and taken pleasure in nothing.. In 1869 Maupassant started to study law in Paris, but soon, at the age of 20, he volunteered to serve in the army during the Franco-Prussian War. Maupassant was the elder of the two children of Gustave and Laure de Maupassant. Guy de Maupassant Henri Ren Albert Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) is the most celebrated of French short-story writers. In 1878, he was transferred to the Ministry of Public Instruction and became a contributing editor to several leading newspapers such as Le Figaro, Gil Blas, Le Gaulois and l'cho de Paris. Gustave Flaubert is a good friend of Laure Le Poittevin (Maupassants mother). The gentleman in the white waistcoat is interesting because he remains nameless and is identified chiefly by this one article of . This theme of a working-class person unsuccessfully trying to rise above their station was common in de Maupassant's stories. Before his death, Maupassant penned down a phrase in honour of his memory after death. For classical studies in Institution Leroy-Petit, in Rouen. Two years saw six new books of short stories: Mademoiselle Fifi (1883), Contes de la bcasse (1883; Tales of the Goose), Clair de lune, Les Soeurs Rondoli (The Rondoli Sisters), Yvette, and Miss Harriet. During this time his only recreation and relaxation was boating on the Seine on Sundays and holidays. When Guy reached the age of thirteen, his mother placed her two sons as day boarders in a private school, the Institution Leroy-Petit, in Rouenthe Institution Robineau of Maupassant's story La Question du Latinfor classical studies. Best Known For: The short stories of writer Guy de Maupassant detail many aspects of French life in the 19th century. This was until illness struck Maupassant down. Lombardi, Esther. Maupassant's story, Boule de suif ("Ball of Fat"), was not only by far the best of the six, it is probably the finest story he ever wrote. Guy de Maupassant (French Short Story Writer and Naturalist ) Widely regarded as the 'Father of Modern Short Story' writing, Guy de Maupassant was one of the greatest French writers in the 19th century. Quote Of The Day | Top 100 Quotes, See the events in life of Guy De Maupassant in Chronological Order, (French Short Story Writer and Naturalist ). Biography of Guy de Maupassant, Father of the Short Story. Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) Guy de Maupassant is known as a major practitioner of Naturalism and Realism and an exceptionally fine short story writer. Leo Tolstoy used Maupassant as the subject for one of his essays on art, The Works of Guy de Maupassant. Additionally, Guy de Maupassant was a representative of the Naturalist school. Author of, Literary and music critic. Guy de Maupassant went crazy due to parental mistreatment in spite of "writing about it". With a natural aversion to society, he loved retirement, solitude, and meditation. He also wrote six short novels. Some critics have charted his developing mental illness through the subject matter of his stories. We may all come from different walks of life but we have one common passion - learning through travel. But de Maupassant's horror fiction is only a small portion of his work, some 39 stories or so. He published the story in 1880. He has to fight in the Franco-Prussian War. In 1894, he became the subject of Leo Tolstoys book The Works of Guy de Maupassant'. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/guy-de-maupassant-biography-740701. The couple's second son, Herv, was born in 1856. Henri Ren Albert Guy de Maupassant (Aug 5, 1850 - Jul 6, 1893) was a popular French author who wrote under the pen name Guy de Maupassant.He is considered one of the fathers of the modern short story as well as one of its finest practitioners. The novel comes under the realist genre and was one of the shortest of his novels. In the autumn of 1869 he began law studies in Paris, which were interrupted by the outbreak of the Franco-German War. The couples second son, Herv, was born in 1856. Lombardi, Esther. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guy-de-Maupassant, New York Review Books - Guy de Maupassant, All Poetry - Biography of Guy de Maupassant, Guy de Maupassant - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Her sacrifices had been for nothing. His law studies were interrupted by the Franco-Prussian War; his experience as a volunteer provided him with material for some of his best works. it was probably the finest story he ever wrote. The following year, his novel, Bel Ami was published. Maupassant is considered a father of the modern short story. During his apprenticeship with Flaubert, Maupassant published one or two stories under a pseudonym in obscure provincial magazines. By User Den fjttrade ankan on sv.wikipedia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1250918. Guy de Maupassant, (born Aug. 5, 1850, Chteau de Miromesnil?, near Dieppe, Francedied July 6, 1893, Paris), French writer of short stories. Isaac Babel wrote a short story about him, Guy de Maupassant. It appears in The Collected Stories of Isaac Babel and in the story anthology Youve Got To Read This: Contemporary American Writers Introduce Stories that Held Them in Awe. In 1868, when he was eighteen, he saved the life of poet Algernon Charles Swinburne, rescuing the latter from drowning off the coast of Etretat. Maupassant contributed a short story on the Franco-Prussian war to a volume called Les Soires de Mdan. Facts about Guy de Maupassant 2: His family In spite of his lack of enthusiasm for the bureaucracy, his years as a civil servant were the happiest of his life. In 1880, his acclaimed short story, Boule de Suif' was published. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In his later years he developed a constant desire for solitude, an obsession for self-preservation, and a fear of death and paranoia of persecution caused by the syphilis he had contracted in his youth. Maupassant is considered a father of the modern short story. The story was written in the form of journal. A protege of Flaubert, Maupassant's short stories are characterized by their economy of style and their efficient effortless dnouement. Famous Birthdays. He also wrote under various pen names - Guy de Valmont and Joseph Prunier. After his graduation, he became a volunteer in the Franco-Prussian War. In the next 10 years he published some 300 short stories, six novels, and three travel books. His second novel, Bel-Ami, which came out in 1885, had thirty-seven printings in four months. After a gruesome suicide attempt in 1891 (he tried to cut his throat),de Maupassant spent the last 18 months of his life in a Paris mental home, the celebrated private asylum of Dr. Espirit Blanche. He suffered from mental problems and tried to commit suicide by slitting his throat in 1892. Lets look at the Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Guy de Maupassant. Here are 5 of the best facts about De Maupassant The Necklace and De Maupassant Guy I managed to collect. He is one of the fathers of the modern short story. He was prolific, publishing over 300 short stories and six. Maupassant was one of a fair number of 19th-century Parisians (including Charles Gounod, Alexandre Dumas, fils, and Charles Garnier) who did not care for the Eiffel Tower[15] (erected in 1887-1889). Henri Rene Albert Guy de Maupassant was born in Tourville-sur-Arques, France. Gustave Flaubert, a good friend of Maupassants mother noticed Maupassants interest in writing and introduced him to Emile Zola and Henry James. The suicide attempt was believed to be a result of his impaired mental state. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/guy-de-maupassant-biography-740701. LHritage (The Heritage),La Maison Tellier (The House of Mme Tellier),La Ficelle (The Piece of String,Boule de suif (Tallow Ball),Clair de lune (Moonlight, La Parure (The Necklace),Mlle Fifi and Miss Harriet are his masterpieces. That is why Maupassant is introduced toEmile Zola and Henry James. "[This quote needs a citation] In the script Questor copulates with a woman to obtain information that she is reluctant to impart. Maupassant was a protg of Gustave Flaubert and his stories are characterized by economy of style and efficient, seemingly effortless dnouements. Guy de Maupassant, (born Aug. 5, 1850, Chteau de Miromesnil?, near Dieppe, Francedied July 6, 1893, Paris), French writer of short stories. His subsequent short stories include, 'Deux Amis' and Mother Savage'. Maupassant was a civil servant in the period between 1872 and 1880 years. The letter was against the towers construction. Hes my disciple and I love him like a son, Flaubert said of Maupassant. At Flaubert's home he met mile Zola (1840-1902) and the Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev (1818-1883), as well as many of the proponents of the realist and naturalist schools. Laure sent her son to make Flauberts acquaintance at Croisset in 1867, and when he returned to Paris after the war, she asked Flaubert to keep an eye on him. All rights reserved. However, his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War. Much like Flaubert's paintings, de Maupassant's stories told the plight of the lower classes. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He cruised on his private yacht Bel-Ami, named after his novel. She took custody of Guy and his younger brother, and it was her influence that led her sons to develop an appreciation for literature. Mature life and works of Guy de Maupassant. Bel-Ami, novel by Guy de Maupassant, published in 1885. His talent and practical business sense made him wealthy. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,.css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}contact us! Book Review: The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa. He lived under the care of his mother. He refused to undergo treatment, and it eventually affected his mental state. 2) Laure Le Poittevin, Maupassant's mother, became the most influential figure in his life. On February 17, 1884, his short story titled, La Parure' was published in the French newspaper called, 'Le Gaulois'. We have talked facts about Gay de Maupassant. third Little Maupassant was gaining knowledge and skills from his friends; he improved his gifts and talents, which helped him in his poetry and writing. Une Vie (1883, tr. First Name Guy #31. Copyright Network18 Media and Investments Ltd 2023. He died at the age of 42 in Esprit Blanche at Passy, in Paris. When asked why, he said it was because it is the only place in Paris were one cannot see the structure. He would spend the next ten years of his life, serving in this position. Both parents came of Norman families, the fathers of the minor aristocracy, but the marriage was a failure, and the couple separated permanently when Guy was 11 years old. In it, a prostitute traveling by coach is companionably treated by her fellow French passengers, who are anxious to share her provisions of food, but then a German officer stops the coach and refuses to let it proceed until he has possessed her; the other passengers induce her to satisfy him, and then ostracize her for the rest of the journey. Also Known As: Henri Ren Albert Guy de Maupassant, siblings: Creig de Maupassant, Herv de Maupassant, Notable Alumni: Lyce Pierre-Corneille, Lyce Henri-IV, education: Lyce Henri-IV, Lyce Pierre-Corneille, Quotes By Guy De Maupassant | Since the war figures significantly into the story, readers. The following year, he went to the Lyce Pierre-Corneille School, where he took part in drama and became passionate about poetry. French writer Guy de Maupassant is famous for his short stories, which paint a fascinating picture of French life in the 19th century. In 1871, he left Normandy and moved to Paris, where he spent ten years as a clerk in the Navy Department. Some of the best-known authors for whom Maupassant was an inspiration include W. Somerset Maugham, O. Henry, and Henry James. Learn how your comment data is processed. Soon after graduation, Maupassant served as a volunteer in the Franco-Prussian War, after which he pursued a career as a civil servant working in the Navy Department and the Ministry of Public Instruction. His magnum opus, 'Boule de Suif' is widely revered as one of his best short stories. In fact, he and 46 other Parisian literary and artistic notables attached their names to a letter of protest against the tower's construction, written to the Minister of Public Works. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of NEWS18.com does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them. His literary education came through his informal apprenticeship to Gustave Flaubert, who was a friend of his mothers. Maupassants mother, Laure, was the sister of Alfred Le Poittevin, who had been a close friend of Gustave Flaubert, and she herself remained on affectionate terms with the novelist for the rest of his life. One can see from a story like Mouche (1890; Fly) that the latter were more than merely boating expeditions and that the girls who accompanied Maupassant and his friends were usually prostitutes or prospective prostitutes. However, he had never loved working, all his free time Maupassant spent in women pursuit. http://www.professorguerrero.com/2012/07/necklace-by-guy-de-maupassant-essay-2.html, http://enria.org/society/life-tips-in-the-interpretation-of-guy-de-maupassant. In 1890, he authored the short story 'L'Inutile Beaut. The commercial success of his writing made Flaubert famous and independently wealthy. Maupassant was phenomenally promiscuous, and before he was 25 years old his health was being eroded by syphilis. Most Popular. One of his famous short stories, "The Necklace", was imitated with a twist by Maugham ("Mr Know-All", "A String of Beads"). His passion of writing is visible from his letter-writing during he serves as soldier. At the Villa des Verguies, between the sea and the luxuriant countryside, he grew very fond of fishing and of outdoor activities. Famous french writer Guy de Maupassant, often lunched there and gave the reason as - its the only place in Paris where I dont have to see it!. Guy de Maupassant is regarded as the best French writer of short stories. Author E. Renouar on Wikimedia. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. He often ate lunch in the restaurant at its base, not out of preference for the food but because only there could he avoid seeing its otherwise unavoidable profile. Although the Maupassants were a free-thinking family, Guy received his first education from the church and at age 13 was sent to a small seminary at Yvetot that took both lay and clerical pupils. Henri Ren Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer. This story is one of his most well-known works. The themes were such as war, prostitution, life in provincial France, religion, marriage, and infidelity. At this time he wrote what many consider his greatest novel, Pierre et Jean (1888). Maupassant would go on to develop a fear of death and paranoia of persecution caused by the syphilis he had contracted in his youth. The stories were under a pseudonym in obscure provincial magazines. A Time Warner Company. In 1884, his short story La mere Sauvage' and 'La Parure' was published. Perhaps his best-known work, "The Necklace," tells the story of Mathilde, a working-class girl who borrows a necklace from a wealthy friend when she attends a high society party. However, he was committed to the private asylum of Esprit Blanche at Passy, in Paris., where he died on 6 July 1893 from syphilis. [18] On 2 January 1892, Maupassant tried to commit suicide by cutting his throat; he was committed to the private asylum of Esprit Blanche at Passy, in Paris, where he died (6 July 1893) from syphilis. Maupassants story, Boule de suif (Ball of Fat), was not only by far the best of the six. It has been suggested that his brother, Herv, also suffered from syphilis and that the disease may have been congenital. He resumed his law studies in Paris. Gustave Flaubert took him under his protection and acted as a kind of literary guardian to him, guiding his debut in journalism and literature. Maupassant contracted Syphilis in his youth. He fathered three children - Honore Lucien Litzelmann, Jeanne Lucienne Litzelmann and Marthe Marguerite Litzelmann. His work was admired by his contemporaries and imitated by those who came after him. For example, "Une Vie" written by Maupassant, has clearly been influenced by Flaubert's style of writing. In 1880, Flaubert published one of his most famous short stories "Boule du Suif," about a prostitute pressured to provide her services to a Prussian officer. Maupassant penned his own epitaph: "I have coveted everything and taken pleasure in nothing." In 1868 he was sent to the Lyce Pierre-Corneille in Rouen. 4) At the age of 13, Maupassant was placed at a private school which he disliked and got himself expelled from. To support our blog and writers we put affiliate links and advertising on our page. Mathilde loses the necklace and works the rest of her life to pay for it, only discovering years later that it was a worthless piece of costume jewelry. [6] He then obtained from the Tribunal Civil of Rouen by decree dated 9 July 1846 the right to style himself "de Maupassant" instead of "Maupassant", and this was his surname at the birth of his son Guy in 1850.[7]. Maupassant was one of six writers, led by Zola, who each contributed a short story on the Franco-German War to a volume called Les Soires de Mdan. French writer Guy de Maupassant (August 5, 1850-July 6, 1893) wrote short stories such as "The Necklace" and "Bel-Ami" as well as poetry, novels, and newspaper articles. Discover Walks contributors speak from all corners of the world - from Prague to Bangkok, Barcelona to Nairobi. In 1881 he published his first volume of short stories under the title of La Maison Tellier; it reached its twelfth edition within two years.