His prolific and deeply admired body of work influenced a great number of writers including William Somerset Maugham, O. Henry, Anton Chekhov, Kate Chopin and Henry James. In the winter of 1916 I found myself in Petersburg with forged papers and without a kopeck to my name. His parents separated when he was 11 years old. He was born on August 5, 1850 as Henri Rene Albert Guy de Maupassant and died on July 6, 1893 in Passy, Paris at the age of 42. He moved from Normandy to Paris after the war, and after leaving his clerkship in the French Navy he worked for several prominent French newspapers. Whenever Flaubert was staying in Paris, he used to invite Maupassant to lunch on Sundays, lecture him on prose style, and correct his youthful literary exercises. https://www.thoughtco.com/guy-de-maupassant-biography-740701 (accessed April 9, 2021). Through her parenting, he was exposed to literature, which would set him on the path to becoming a writer. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. His stories amazingly captured numerous aspects of the daily in France during that period. He was a writer, known for La criada de la granja (1953), Masculin Féminin (1966) and Black Sabbath (1963). But it was her friend Flaubert who opened doors for the budding young writer. Henry-René-Albert-Guy de Maupassant [gii dö mopass'aa (n)] ( prantsuse [ɡi də mopaˈsɑ̃]; 5. august 1850 – 7. juuli 1893) oli prantsuse novellikirjanik . Flaubert would prove to be a major influence on de Maupassant's life and career. Member, Academy of Fine Arts, Institute of France, 1965–67. Guy de Maupassant. In the autumn of 1869 he began law studies in Paris, which were interrupted by the outbreak of the Franco-German War. "Nowhere could she discover the dens of iniquity about which she had dreamed." Maupassant was commonly known as the‘Father of Modern Short Story’writing. His father managed to have him transferred, at his own wish, to the Ministry of Public Instruction in 1879. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Maupassanti mõlemad vanemad Gustave de Maupassant ja Laure Le Poittevin olid pärit jõukast kodanlaseperest. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. From Wikisource. Author of. Facts about Guy de Maupassant will inform you about a famous French writer. 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. Maupassant was adamant in refusing to undergo treatment, with the result that the disease was to cast a deepening shadow over his mature years and was accentuated by neurasthenia, which had also afflicted his brother. Guy de Maupassant was born on August 5, 1850 in Château de Miromesnil, France as Henry-René-Albert-Guy de Maupassant. He lived on a frozen, reeking, yellow street in Peski. Guy de Maupassant was born on Aug. 5, 1850, in Normandy; his exact birthplace has never been established. Guy de Maupassant: Short Stories Questions and Answers. Guy de Valmont and Joseph Prunier are his pen… This was the beginning of the apprenticeship that was the making of Maupassant the writer. He died in a private asylum at the age of 42. The fact that his brother died at an early age of the same disease suggests that it might have been congenital. "The Necklace" (French: La Parure) is an 1884 short story by French writer Guy de Maupassant. Guyl oli 6 … Guy de Maupassant, French naturalist writer of short stories and novels who is by general agreement the greatest French short-story writer. 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. Alien Hearts was the last book that Guy de Maupassant finished before his death aged just forty-three.It is the most original and psychologically penetrating of his several novels, and the one in which he attains a truly tragic perception of the wounded human heart. Laure sent her son to make Flaubert’s acquaintance at Croisset in 1867, and when he returned to Paris after the war, she asked Flaubert to keep an eye on him. Guy de Maupassant is regarded as the best French writer of short stories. —from "A Parisian Affair" (1881) by Guy de Maupassant Guy de Maupassant was probably born at the Château de Miromesniel, Dieppe on August 5, 1850. His paternal ancestors were noble, and his maternal grandfather Paul Le Poittevin was the artist Gustave Flaubert's godfather. He moved to the lycée at Le Havre and passed his baccalaureate the following year. Maupassant is often described as the father of the modern short story—a literary form that's more condensed and immediate than the novel. "Biography of Guy de Maupassant, Father of the Short Story." Among his best-known works are the novel Bel-Ami (‘Good Friend’) and the short stories ‘Boule de suif’ (‘Ball of Fat’) and ‘La Maison Tellier’ (‘The Tellier House’). Both parents came of Norman families, the father’s of the minor aristocracy, but the marriage was a failure, and the couple separated permanently when Guy was 11 years old. His work was admired by his contemporaries and imitated by those who came after him. He also wrote six short novels. 175 talking about this. Many of his stories made their first appearance in the latter newspaper. He is also a novelist and poet. Flaubert took young Guy as a kind of protege, introducing him to significant writers of the day such as Emile Zola and Ivan Turgenev. Guy de Maupassant, in full Henry-René-Albert-Guy de Maupassant, (born August 5, 1850, Château de Miromesnil?, near Dieppe, France—died July 6, 1893, Paris), French naturalist writer of short stories and novels who is by general agreement the greatest French short-story writer. Omissions? Maupassant grew up in … Henry-René-Albert-Guy de Maupassant [gi d(ə) mo.pa.ˈsɑ̃] est un écrivain et journaliste littéraire français né le 5 août 1850 au château de Miromesnil à Tourville-sur-Arques (en Seine-Inférieure) et mort le 6 juillet 1893 à Paris. Lombardi, Esther. His mother’s claim that he was born at the Château de Miromesnil has been disputed. Guy de Maupassant learned in his early 20s that he had syphilis, which was then a frightening and widespread malady. He felt a decided antipathy for this form of life and deliberately engineered his own expulsion for some trivial offense in 1868. His parents separated when he was 11 years old after his mother, Laure Le Poittevin, left his father Gustave de Maupassant. Guy de Maupassant - Guy de Maupassant - Mature life and works: As soon as Boule de suif was published, Maupassant found himself in demand by newspapers. Flaubert’s sudden and unexpected death in 1880 was a grievous blow to Maupassant. A lot of his stories were founded on the Franco-Prussian War and the lives of acquitted people who part of it. A Story by Isaac Babel. Analysis of Guy de Maupassant’s Stories By Nasrullah Mambrol on December 5, 2019 • ( 0). Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer. Corrections? Guy de Maupassant once said, ''It is the lives we encounter that make life worth living.'' His stories reveal the various aspects of French life during his times. From 1870-71, Guy de Maupassant served in the French Army. It's believed de Maupassant was born at the Château de Miromesniel, Dieppe on Aug. 5, 1850. Maupassant was demobilized in July 1871 and resumed his law studies in Paris. French novelist and considered one of the fathers of the modern short story. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guy-de-Maupassant, The Literature Network - Biography of Guy de Maupassant, All Poetry - Biography of Guy de Maupassant, Guy de Maupassant - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Maupassant is one of the fathers of the modern short story. The story was first published on 17 February 1884 in the French newspaper Le Gaulois. Esther Lombardi, M.A., is a journalist who has covered books and literature for over twenty years. His inscription fitted to the field of naturalism. Updates? It was through Flaubert that de Maupassant became familiar with (and part of) the naturalist school of writers, a style that would permeate nearly all of his stories. Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. His father came to his assistance again and obtained a post for him in the Ministry of Marine, which was intended to support him until he qualified as a lawyer. By 1890, the disease had started to cause increasingly strange behavior. Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) sister projects: Wikipedia article, Commons gallery, Commons category, quotes, Wikidata item. Guy de Maupassant. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893), French author of the naturalistic school who is generally considered the greatest French short story writer. His 300 stories were written in the naturalist style and often described the life of the lower and middle classes. “He’s my disciple and I love him like a son,” Flaubert said of Maupassant. 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. His paternal ancestors were noble, and his maternal grandfather, Paul Le Poittevin, was Gustave Flaubert's godfather. Aleksei Kazantsev, a teacher of Russian philology, gave me shelter. He is considered one of the fathers of the modern short story as well as one of its finest practitioners. Lombardi, Esther. He refused to undergo treatment, and it eventually affected his mental state. Who was Guy de Maupassant? He was an author of the naturalist and realist schools of writing and is best known for his short stories, which are considered highly influential on much of modern literature. Remembering Maupassant - Guy de Maupassant lived a short but highly productive life and his short stories and novels are still among the most widely read of French literature. Get more out of the story with our The Necklace Study Guide. After a juvenile diatribe against romanticism and a passionate attack on languorous literature, the writer extolled the study of real life, and announced the publication of the new work. This theme of a working-class person unsuccessfully trying to rise above their station was common in de Maupassant's stories. He died on July 6, 1893 in Paris, France. Maupassant’s 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. 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. Henry-Rene-Albert-Guy de Maupassant was probably born at the Chateau de Miromesniel, Dieppe. "Biography of Guy de Maupassant, Father of the Short Story." The turning point came in April 1880, the month before Flaubert’s death. He has printed more than 300 short stories, six stories, travel books as well as also a book of poetry. Guy de Maupassant. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Literary and music critic. Guy de Maupassant 2h 11min | Biography , Drama , Romance | 14 April 1982 (France) The life and times of the famous French writer Guy de Maupassant. His literary education came through his informal apprenticeship to Gustave Flaubert, who was a friend of his mother’s. Maupassant volunteered, served first as a private in the field, and was later transferred through his father’s intervention to the quartermaster corps. He is one of the fathers of the modern short story. 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. His firsthand experience of war was to provide him with the material for some of his finest stories. Some of the best-known authors for whom Maupassant was an inspiration include W. Somerset Maugham, O. Henry, and Henry James. by Guy de Maupassant The Necklace (1884) is a famous short story and morality tale that is widely read in classrooms throughout the world. Guy de Maupassant met Gustave Flaubert, a French writer, in high school in 1… Born on August 5, 1850 in the Castle Miromesnil in France, Guy de Maupassant was a sweet young boy who had a knack for storytelling from a young age. “Boule de suif” (“Ball of Fat”) is regarded as his best story, while the best known is “La Parure” (“The Necklace”). It was signed by a name as yet unknown: Guy de Maupassant. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. He devoted much of his spare time to swimming and to boating expeditions on the Seine. This is unfortunately what happened to de Maupassant. 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. The suicide attempt was believed to be a result of his impaired mental state. It is known for its twist ending (ironic ending), which was a hallmark of de Maupassant's style. The modern short story is not merely a condensed version of the novel, but takes on its own distinct form in the modern era. Guy de Maupassant died just two years after William Dickson invented the movie camera (and just one day short of two years after Thomas Edison stole credit for inventing it), but reading his short stories almost makes it seem as if he knew what was coming. The Complete Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant. 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. After his mother and father divorced in 1861, Maupassant stayed with his mother. He did not care for the bureaucracy but was not unsuccessful and was several times promoted. He left the ministry and spent the next two years writing articles for Le Gaulois and the Gil Blas. 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 Soirées de Médan. 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. A number of his stories also highlighted the Franco-Prussian War and revolved around … Guy de Maupassant was one of the highest French authors in the 19th century. The girl was one of those pretty and charming young creatures who sometimes are born, as if by a slip of fate, into a family of clerks. A protege of Flaubert, Maupassant's short stories are characterized by their economy of style and their efficient effortless dénouement. His stories strikingly captured various aspects of day-to-day life in France during that time. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Guy de Maupassant [gí d mópasán] (5. srpna 1850, Tourville-sur-Arques – 6. července 1893, Paříž) byl francouzský spisovatel 2. poloviny 19. století, spolu s Émilem Zolou a Gustavem Flaubertem představitel literárního realismu a naturalismu. The couple’s second son, Hervé, was born in 1856. In spite of his lack of enthusiasm for the bureaucracy, his years as a civil servant were the happiest of his life. Click to see full answer. The Question and Answer section for Guy de Maupassant: Short Stories is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the 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. Indeed, there can be little doubt that the early years in Paris were the start of his phenomenal promiscuity. Fast Facts: Guy de Maupassant Known For: French author of short stories, novels, and poetry Also Known As: Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant, Guy de Valmont, Joseph Prunier, Maufrigneuse Born: August 5, 1850 in Tourville-sur-Arques, France Parents: … ThoughtCo. See full bio » At some point in his 20s, de Maupassant contracted syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease that, if left untreated, leads to mental impairment. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/guy-de-maupassant-biography-740701. Her sacrifices had been for nothing. But even these works had significance; Stephen King's famous novel "The Shining" has been compared to Maupassant's "The Inn.". But de Maupassant's horror fiction is only a small portion of his work, some 39 stories or so. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Guy de Maupassant sinh tại vùng Normandie ở miền bắc nước Pháp ngày 5 tháng 8 năm 1850 trong một gia đình giàu có. 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. His father, a libertine with a roving disposition, and his mother were legally separated when Guy was still a boy, and he spent a carefree adolescence under … Much like Flaubert's paintings, de Maupassant's stories told the plight of the lower classes. He completed his primary school education at the local church. Zola described the young Maupassant as a “terrific oarsman able to row fifty miles on the Seine in a single day for pleasure.” Maupassant was a passionate lover of the sea and of rivers, which accounts for the setting of much of his fiction and the prevalence in it of nautical imagery. Guy de Maupassant was a prolific 19th century French writer who is also considered as the ‘Father Of Short Story Writing’. Lombardi, Esther. Even though his writing career spanned barely a decade, Flaubert was prolific, writing some 300 short stories, three plays, six novels, and hundreds of newspaper articles. It is a narration that questions one's judgment and emotions and instills doubt within the reader. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/guy-de-maupassant-biography-740701. The commercial success of his writing made Flaubert famous and independently wealthy. Boule de suif epitomizes Maupassant’s style in its economy and balance. Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant died in Passy, Paris, France on this day in 1893 (aged 42). (2020, August 28). It follows the story of a man who spends all his spare time mourning over his lover's grave. French writer Guy de Maupassant is famous for his short stories, which paint a fascinating picture of French life in the 19th century. by Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) Approximate Word Count: 4058 It was yesterday, the 31st of December. He then became a government clerk. Maupassant delights in clever plotting, serving as a model for W. Somerset … Cha mẹ Maupassant ly thân năm ông lên mười một tuổi, và … “Was it a Dream?” is a story written by 19th century French writer, Guy de Maupassant. It was a concise description of a twofold relationship: if Flaubert was the inspiration for Maupassant the writer, he also provided the child of a broken marriage with a foster father. Guy de Maupassant (1850-93) was known for his hugely influential short stories and the vivid realism of his novels. Helpful Discussion Questions for 'The Necklace', Biography of Kate Chopin, American Author and Protofeminist, Quotes from Arthur Rimbaud's Surrealist Writing, Biography of Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize Winning Writer, Biography of Washington Irving, Father of the American Short Story, A List of Every Nobel Prize Winner in Literature, 27 Black American Women Writers You Should Know, Flash Fiction From Baudelaire to Lydia Davis, High School Vocabulary in Context Worksheets, Profile of Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize Winning Novelist, Biography of Ernest Hemingway, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize Winning Writer, M.A., English Literature, California State University - Sacramento, B.A., English, California State University - Sacramento. He also introduced him to some of the leading writers of the time, such as Émile Zola, Ivan Turgenev, Edmond Goncourt, and Henry James. He had two younger brothers. Maupassant was the elder of the two children of Gustave and Laure de Maupassant. Often beginning in media res (in the middle of the action), the modern short story dispenses with much if not all of the exposition, instead choosing to reveal character not from authorial description, but from the actions of the characters themselves. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. Some of his reno… Biography of Guy de Maupassant, Father of the Short Story. Some critics have charted his developing mental illness through the subject matter of his stories. Widely regarded as the ‘Father of Modern Short Story’ writing, Guy de Maupassant was one of the greatest French writers in the 19th century. During his apprenticeship with Flaubert, Maupassant published one or two stories under a pseudonym in obscure provincial magazines. Guy de Maupassant studied law and served in the military during the Franco-German War.