TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE THIEF (1882) Three friends are having a party and dress up in the ancient uniforms that the host collects, each with an appropriate weapon. So when they hear a suspicious noise in the attic and realise that a prowler’s up there, they launch a military expedition to surround and capture the culprit. Which they do, and they decide to conduct his trial that, given their state of inebriation, pronounces a death sentence. (1,550 words)
2. THE IMPOLITE SEX (1882) (…)
Home > Maupassant > THE 182 MAUPASSANT STORIES ON THIS SITE
THE 182 MAUPASSANT STORIES ON THIS SITE
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"The Thief" and other stories by Guy de Maupassant
29 November 2021, by Guy de Maupassant -
"The Olive Grove" and other stories by Guy de Maupassant
22 October 2021, by Guy de MaupassantTABLE OF CONTENTS
1. FEAR (1882) A group on a passenger boat is discussing the topic and one of them intervenes to give two examples of what fear really is other than simply the somewhat-instinctive reaction to a dangerous situation. Both examples have an eerie and almost-but-not-quite supernatural aspect. (2,300 words) Translated by M. Laurie in the Everyman’s Library collection of Maupassant stories published in the USA in 1934.
2. THAT COSTLY RIDE (1883) An impoverished young couple (…) -
"A Family Affair" and other stories by Guy de Maupassant
20 September 2021, by Guy de MaupassantTABLE OF CONTENTS
1. A FAMILY AFFAIR (1881) We follow Monsieur Caravan in his daily routine and trying to cope with the constant state of warfare between his spouse and his elderly mother who lives with them and their two ragamuffin children. But today there’s a dramatic decline in the mother’s health and the issues of heritage and testaments start to assume major proportions. (10,210 words)
2. THE BLIND MAN (1882) The narrator, in the process of enjoying the atmosphere of a new spring, (…) -
Corsican stories by Maupassant
3 September 2021, by Guy de MaupassantGuy de Maupassant wrote six stories taking place in Corsica, "l’Île de Beauté" that he knew well and was particularly attracted to.
These short but powerful tales, written in his straightforward, realistic and elegant style at the height of his literary career, are a remarkable testimonial to that very particular corner of France (Corsica had come under French rule in 1769 after 400 years of rule by the Republic of Genoa, apart from two brief periods of independence [1736-1740 and (…) -
"Suicides" and other stories by Guy de Maupassant
7 January 2021, by Guy de MaupassantTABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Suicides (1880) A letter is found beside a 57-year-old man who has just shot himself in a depressed state of mind, as dramatically explained in his letter. (1,800 words)
2. Lasting Love (1882) A group of hunters and their wives are debating the question of long-lasting (or otherwise) love after a copious dinner, and a retired Parisian doctor recounts the most intense and long-lasting affair he had ever encountered, involving a respectable pharmacist and a (...)
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"The Burning Log" and other stories by Guy de Maupassant
6 December 2020, by Guy de MaupassantTABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE BURNING LOG (1882) The narrator is having tea with a close friend when a log burning in the fireplace rolls onto the carpet. That reminds him of a similar but more dramatic incident when he’d been dining with very close and newly-married friends, a story that the lady insists he tells her and us. (1,850 words)
2. THE BED (1882) The narrator discovers a letter hidden in an old priest’s gown that he had just bought at a public auction. It’s a letter from a sick and (…) -
"At the Spa" and other stories by Guy de Maupassant
30 July 2020, by Guy de MaupassantMore excellent tales by master Maupassant, all of which have been translated into English specially for this site. TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. COCONUT, COCONUT, FRESH COCONUT! (1878) Pierre’s uncle left him 500 francs and also 100 francs to be given to the first street coconut-vendor he comes across. In a manuscript the uncle explains that one of them had played a role at a number of the key moments in his life. (1,300 words)
2. FLOTSAM (1881) The narrator comments on his attraction to seaside (…) -
"On the Water" and other stories by Guy de Maupassant
6 July 2020, by Guy de MaupassantTABLE OF CONTENTS
1. ON THE WATER (1876) The narrator tells us about the eerie adventure on the Seine of his neighbour, an enthusiastic boater and lover of the river and all its mysteries. (2,300 words)
2. A NORMANDY JOKE (1882) At a wedding feast in the Normandy countryside the bridegroom reacts to the ribald teasing of his friends, but nevertheless underestimates the trick that they have prepared for him. (1,600 words)
3. MARTINE (1882) Benoist manages to talk to the beautiful (…) -
"Solitude" and other previously untranslated stories by Guy de Maupassant
25 June 2020, by Guy de MaupassantA 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 (…) -
"The Night" and other stories by Guy de Maupassant
16 May 2020, by Guy de MaupassantA 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 (…)