stories

Colonel Laporte propounds his views on the Frenchman’s overwhelming not to say obsessive interest in the female half of humanity, and illustrates his declaration with the story of how his detachment in the recent Franco-Prussian War managed against all odds to survive after rescuing a young woman and her father who were fleeing from marauding Prussian troops.
A dramatic tale recounted in an engaging, almost light-hearted spirit that’s hard to resist.
(2,000 words)
Translated by (…)

During his visit of the famous abbey a Norman peasant explains to the narrator the local version of the historic combat between Saint Michael and the Devil around the famous abbey.
This story was first published in the daily newspaper Gil Blas under the pen-name Maufrigneuse on December 19, 1882, and then in the anthology of Maupassant stories Clair de lune published in 1884.
(1,600 words)
It has been translated specially for this site.
The original French text can be seen below. I (…)

The narrator, who’s sojourning in Algeria and suffering heavily from the heat and the absence of female companionship, writes to a friend who wants to know what the ladies are like in those parts.
The letter is an account of his steamy affair with the (very) passionate wife of a citizen in the town on the coast where he he’d rented a house.
Marroca was first published in the daily newspaper Gil Blas on March 2, 1882 under the pen-name Maufrigneuse, and then in the anthology Mademoiselle (…)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE ODYSSEY OF A STREET GIRL (1883) The narrator remembers an unforgettable night when he had saved a young street girl from being caught up in a police raid and she had recounted to him the story of her fall from grace. A sad story with a strong undercurrent of social criticism. (2,300 words)
2. MEMORIES (1884) A woman writes to a friend in Paris to explain why she won’t come to visit her any more, explaining that true happiness for her lies in dreaming, not about (…)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. BOULE DE SUIF (1880) A group of civilians obtains permission from the Prussian forces that have just occupied Rouen during the War of 1870 to leave for the coast: several rich businessmen with their wives, a count and his countess, two nuns, a radical activist and Boule de Suif (’Fat Ball’), a plump woman of the streets. But the going is slow as it is winter and when they arrive at the nearest town it has also been occupied by Prussian troops. They are obliged to stay (…)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE STORY OF A FARM GIRL (1881) Rosa, a young servant on a rather prosperous farm is pursued by Jacques, a labourer on the farm. She is a strong girl and easily fends him off but one thing leads to another and even a marriage promise. But Rosa’s life falls apart a few months later when she is in an interesting situation and Jacque’s commitment rapidly fades. (6,900 words)
2. IN THE SPRING (1881) The narrator goes out on a fine spring day and right beside him in (…)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SIMON’S PAPA (1879) Simon’s mother doesn’t have a husband and she has always been disapproved of and excluded, so when Simon first appears in school he is an object of curiosity that turns to scorn, rejection and outright brutality for a long time afterwards. But one day Simon has a new papa. (3,100 words)
2. PAUL’S MISTRESS (1881) Paul is boating on the Seine with Madeleine at a popular inn when a boat arrives with four well-known young women, who provoke Pail’s (…)

The Marquise de Rennedon and her intimate friend the Baroness de Grangerie are two of Maupassant’s most memorable heroines. They both feature in these three sparkling, amusing and amoral stories about their amorous adventures.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE SECRET (1885) The Baroness of Grangerie is resting when the Marquise de Rennedon rushes in to tell her how utterly fed up she had become not only with her husband’s ugliness but especially with his insane jealousy and surveillance. But she (…)

A selection of nine memorable tales by Guy de Maupassant, all in new English translations — two for the first time — that have been done specially for this site.
An e-book, with the original French texts in an annex, is available for downloading below.
The original French texts can also be seen here. TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SOUVENIR (1882) A detachment of French soldiers is retreating in winter at nighttime through enemy-occupied territory during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 when they (…)

A selection of excellent tales by the one of the greatest masters of the short-story format, translated specially for this site. TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE STORY OF A DOG (1881) Cocote is an extremely ugly female mongrel that François has been allowed to keep by the master of the manor where he is a servant. But she is absolutely irresistible for all the male dogs in the neighbourhood and the property soon is invaded by endless streams of mongrels seeking her company. (1,600 words)
2. OLD (…)