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The Best Short Stories
Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here
This collection reflects Maupassant's remarkable diversity, with stories that vary in theme and tone, and range from tragedy and satire to comedy and farce. Boule de Suife, his most famous tale exposes the brutality and hypocrisy of war. His stories are linked by irony and the frailty of human nature.
17 stories:
Boule de Suif
Two Friends
Mme. Tellier's Establishment
Mlle. Fifi
Clair de Lune
Miss Harriet
The Necklace
Mlle. Pearl
The Piece of String
Mme. Husson's "Rosier"
That Pig of a Morin
Useless Beauty
The Olive Orchard
A Sale
Love
Two Little Soldiers
Happiness
This collection reflects Maupassant's remarkable diversity, with stories that vary in theme and tone, and range from tragedy and satire to comedy and farce. Boule de Suife, his most famous tale exposes the brutality and hypocrisy of war. His stories are linked by irony and the frailty of human nature.
17 stories:
Boule de Suif
Two Friends
Mme. Tellier's Establishment
Mlle. Fifi
Clair de Lune
Miss Harriet
The Necklace
Mlle. Pearl
The Piece of String
Mme. Husson's "Rosier"
That Pig of a Morin
Useless Beauty
The Olive Orchard
A Sale
Love
Two Little Soldiers
Happiness
197 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1884
About the author
Guy de Maupassant
5,992 books2,774 followersHenri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer. He is one of the fathers of the modern short story. A protege of Flaubert, Maupassant's short stories are characterized by their economy of style and their efficient effortless dénouement. He also wrote six short novels. A number of his stories often denote the futility of war and the innocent civilians who get crushed in it - many are set during the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
September 9, 2021
A excepción de dos o tres cuentos, todos fueron muy decepcionantes.
April 26, 2017
''her yeri aradılar, taradılar, ama bulamadılar. kendilerinden bir daha hiçbir haber alınmadı ve her ikisine de öldü gözüyle bakıldı.
şimdi ben, elli yıl sonra onu bu korkunç vadide buluyordum.''
ikinci kere okuduğum öykü(ler) kitabı mutluluk
tekrar okumak zorunda kaldım gibi oldu kindle'ı unutup yola çıktığım için :')
zamanında bayılarak okuduğumu hatırlıyorum, bu okuduğumda çok kısa ve tatsız geldi nedense.
bu kadar duygusuz olacak ne vardı bilmiyorum ama birkaç yıl önce gülümseyerek okuduğum sayfalar pek bir şey ifade etmedi yıllar sonra.
bişeyleri kaybettiğimi gösterdi bana maupassant.... ya da bambaşka bir açıdan bakacak olursak, daha yoğun anlatımların okuru oldum, kim bilir?
şimdi ben, elli yıl sonra onu bu korkunç vadide buluyordum.''
ikinci kere okuduğum öykü(ler) kitabı mutluluk
tekrar okumak zorunda kaldım gibi oldu kindle'ı unutup yola çıktığım için :')
zamanında bayılarak okuduğumu hatırlıyorum, bu okuduğumda çok kısa ve tatsız geldi nedense.
bu kadar duygusuz olacak ne vardı bilmiyorum ama birkaç yıl önce gülümseyerek okuduğum sayfalar pek bir şey ifade etmedi yıllar sonra.
bişeyleri kaybettiğimi gösterdi bana maupassant.... ya da bambaşka bir açıdan bakacak olursak, daha yoğun anlatımların okuru oldum, kim bilir?
April 6, 2024
In my opinion Maupassant is one of the all time great short story writers. I'd put him in the same league as W. Somerset Maugham and Richard Yates for sheer quality.
He seems to have had three main themes:
1:The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) during which he was a young conscript.
2:The general selfishness and awfulness of the Bourgeoisie in France during this period.
3:Brothels and the women who work in them.
It's worth noting his sympathies are never hidden. He loathes the Prussians, sympathises with the poor soldiers sent to fight, he despises the Bourgeoisie and blames them for France's downfall and he doesn't really have a bad word to say about the women in the Brothels.
All the stories here are quality and there is a very good reason this man is still in print so long after his death.
He seems to have had three main themes:
1:The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) during which he was a young conscript.
2:The general selfishness and awfulness of the Bourgeoisie in France during this period.
3:Brothels and the women who work in them.
It's worth noting his sympathies are never hidden. He loathes the Prussians, sympathises with the poor soldiers sent to fight, he despises the Bourgeoisie and blames them for France's downfall and he doesn't really have a bad word to say about the women in the Brothels.
All the stories here are quality and there is a very good reason this man is still in print so long after his death.
February 28, 2013
I have to admit; it took some time and a couple of stories to draw me in, but once I was 'enthralled' my love for Maupassant's writing only grew.
They way he portraits his characters and observes life and human nature, so "simple" but full of life and spot on... brilliant! good for a lot of smiles and pondering moments.
Actually stumbled on this book by accident in a second hand book shop, and it turned out to be the seed for a strong desire to delve into the classics in literature =)
They way he portraits his characters and observes life and human nature, so "simple" but full of life and spot on... brilliant! good for a lot of smiles and pondering moments.
Actually stumbled on this book by accident in a second hand book shop, and it turned out to be the seed for a strong desire to delve into the classics in literature =)
March 6, 2008
I finally finished this dual-language collection of short stories from late 19th C France. It started off very slowly, reading a sentence, or even a word, in French, then checking the opposite page for the translation. But, by the last story or two, I could practically read entire pages without translation. If anyone wants to brush up on French, read this out loud too, so you can develop a kind of "aural reference" for various words.
The stories themselves are great - all largely variations on themes of morality, social status and a person's large capacity for hypocrisy. At the end of each story, he really guts you with a cruel twist that may seem a little gimmicky today, but still makes an impact.
The stories themselves are great - all largely variations on themes of morality, social status and a person's large capacity for hypocrisy. At the end of each story, he really guts you with a cruel twist that may seem a little gimmicky today, but still makes an impact.
October 6, 2020
All the stories are interesting and gripping in their own way. A very good collection of stories that are easy to read and understand. A very good light read.
September 7, 2019
Evo jedne kratke recenzije: https://pepeoreci.wordpress.com/2019/...
I, ako nekog zanima, jedne stare priče koju sam napisao pre godinu i kusur meseci: https://pepeoreci.wordpress.com/2019/...
I, ako nekog zanima, jedne stare priče koju sam napisao pre godinu i kusur meseci: https://pepeoreci.wordpress.com/2019/...
November 19, 2021
Al menos la mitad de los cuentos de Maupassant merecen la pena por sí solos, en cada uno de ellos consigue crear una tensión que hace que parezcan más cortos de lo que son en realidad.
March 19, 2022
Bu derlemede Maupassant'ın 17 adet öyküsü yer alıyor. Okuması çok keyifli bu öykülerin genel teması kadın erkek ilişkileri. 43 yıllık hayatının son 13 senesinde yazdığı 300 öyküden seçilen bu öyküler 19. yy sonunda kaleme alınmış olsa da günümüzdeki ilişkiler ve olaylara paralelliği bu öyküleri zamansız kılıyor.
Semih Atayman'ın yazdığı harika önsözü için de ayrıca teşekkür ederim. Dönemi ve dönemin yazarlarını oldukça detaylı bir şekilde anlatmış. Bu önsöz kitaptaki öykülere iyi bir hazırlık niteliğinde.
Semih Atayman'ın yazdığı harika önsözü için de ayrıca teşekkür ederim. Dönemi ve dönemin yazarlarını oldukça detaylı bir şekilde anlatmış. Bu önsöz kitaptaki öykülere iyi bir hazırlık niteliğinde.
August 28, 2007
worth buying for "the necklass" alone
November 27, 2013
Amazing stories! Now I have one favorite short stories author: Guy de Maupassant!
February 18, 2018
Best Short Stories is a dual-language book authored by Guy de Maupassant. Many of his stories were set in his homeland, Normandy, and, published between 1880 and 1887. Maupassant wrote with powerful verve and imagination. In reading the stories it is not unusual that he is known as ‘the father of the modern short story.’ Maupassant had an affinity for writing about strong women, especially filles de joie. He expressed some of his characters with comedic effect, especially male customers affected by the temporary closing in the Tellier Establishment, when Madame and her girls went to her niece’s Holy Communion. The frenzied church scene is incredibly descriptive and humorous.
I read Boule de Suif—Ball of Fat several years ago. In re-reading, it’s still an engaging story. The story took place during the Franco-Prussian War. It concerns a modest, kind-hearted, woman, thought as of easy virtue, who cheerfully shared her delectable foods during a stagecoach ride with nuns and three couples, considered blue bloods. The traveler’s plans would be interrupted at an inn by a Prussian officer, who desired Boule de Suif. A French patriot, Boule de Suif refused to demean herself with the German officer’s advances. Wanting to resume their travels, the elitist couples secretly called her every offensive name under the sun, and urged her to consider the Officer’s demands.
Short story, Mademoiselle Fifi, shows the resilience, courage, and patriotism of Rachel. Prussian officers requested entertainment by courtesans that lived nearby. Rachel was paired with the violent, brutal officer, Second Lieutenant, Marquis von Eyrik, nicknamed Mademoiselle Fifi. His violence would prove his undoing. Rachel was not one to ‘bend and squat’ to any man.
The Necklace concerns a wife dissatisfied with she and her husband’s meager existence. When invited to a ball, her husband buys her a gown and, she borrows a wealthy friend’s necklace, which she loses. The price and irony the couple pay to recover the necklace is notable.
Miss Harriet is the story told by Artist, Leon Chenal to friends of the unfortunate love of his life, an Englishwoman he met in his youth in the French countryside. Miss Harriet is revealed as nomadic, secretive, unhappy, and in total despair. At the end, I loved how Chenal displayed love and respect for Miss Harriet.
Horla revealed, I think, the prescient intuition touching on Maupassant’s fate. I thought the story very depressing. He died at the young age of 43 in 1893.
The introduction states the stories were a patchwork of Maupassant’s daily life. There are other short stories in the collection. I read them all, but commented on six.
I read Boule de Suif—Ball of Fat several years ago. In re-reading, it’s still an engaging story. The story took place during the Franco-Prussian War. It concerns a modest, kind-hearted, woman, thought as of easy virtue, who cheerfully shared her delectable foods during a stagecoach ride with nuns and three couples, considered blue bloods. The traveler’s plans would be interrupted at an inn by a Prussian officer, who desired Boule de Suif. A French patriot, Boule de Suif refused to demean herself with the German officer’s advances. Wanting to resume their travels, the elitist couples secretly called her every offensive name under the sun, and urged her to consider the Officer’s demands.
Short story, Mademoiselle Fifi, shows the resilience, courage, and patriotism of Rachel. Prussian officers requested entertainment by courtesans that lived nearby. Rachel was paired with the violent, brutal officer, Second Lieutenant, Marquis von Eyrik, nicknamed Mademoiselle Fifi. His violence would prove his undoing. Rachel was not one to ‘bend and squat’ to any man.
The Necklace concerns a wife dissatisfied with she and her husband’s meager existence. When invited to a ball, her husband buys her a gown and, she borrows a wealthy friend’s necklace, which she loses. The price and irony the couple pay to recover the necklace is notable.
Miss Harriet is the story told by Artist, Leon Chenal to friends of the unfortunate love of his life, an Englishwoman he met in his youth in the French countryside. Miss Harriet is revealed as nomadic, secretive, unhappy, and in total despair. At the end, I loved how Chenal displayed love and respect for Miss Harriet.
Horla revealed, I think, the prescient intuition touching on Maupassant’s fate. I thought the story very depressing. He died at the young age of 43 in 1893.
The introduction states the stories were a patchwork of Maupassant’s daily life. There are other short stories in the collection. I read them all, but commented on six.
August 11, 2019
4 and half stars
Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) wrote nearly 300 short stories during his life. They were uneven at times yet distinct in style. Full of irony, deception, narrative drama, arguments & quarrels. De Maupassant was also a naturalist with a tendency to lean towards the bleaker side of real life. The Guardian says that he considered life to be "brutal, incoherent, disjointed, full of inexplicable, illogical and contradictory disasters".
The Best Short Stories (first published in 1997 by Wordsworth Editions) contains 17 such examples. My 2011 reprint is rounded out with a rather dry Introduction by Cedric Watts, who informs us that Maupassant's tales 'dealt predominantly with the provincial bourgeoisie, urban employees and civil servants.'
For the past three years, I've been reading a handful of these stories at a time to coincide with Paris in July. This year, I decided it was time to be finished with them. Not because I haven't been enjoying them, but three years is long enough for a book to by taking up space on my bedside table.
I wanted to take my time with each story and not rush from one to the next. I've made that mistake in the past with short story anthologies, and as a result I have no recollection of many of them. I decided to make brief notes on each story. I also gathered together some points about the short story format to help me with my notes.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/...
Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) wrote nearly 300 short stories during his life. They were uneven at times yet distinct in style. Full of irony, deception, narrative drama, arguments & quarrels. De Maupassant was also a naturalist with a tendency to lean towards the bleaker side of real life. The Guardian says that he considered life to be "brutal, incoherent, disjointed, full of inexplicable, illogical and contradictory disasters".
The Best Short Stories (first published in 1997 by Wordsworth Editions) contains 17 such examples. My 2011 reprint is rounded out with a rather dry Introduction by Cedric Watts, who informs us that Maupassant's tales 'dealt predominantly with the provincial bourgeoisie, urban employees and civil servants.'
For the past three years, I've been reading a handful of these stories at a time to coincide with Paris in July. This year, I decided it was time to be finished with them. Not because I haven't been enjoying them, but three years is long enough for a book to by taking up space on my bedside table.
I wanted to take my time with each story and not rush from one to the next. I've made that mistake in the past with short story anthologies, and as a result I have no recollection of many of them. I decided to make brief notes on each story. I also gathered together some points about the short story format to help me with my notes.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/...
July 15, 2017
A diverse and brilliantly written selection of short stories. Maupassant has a mastery of tone that enables him to produce both tragedy and comedy, stories of crafty peasants and brutal soldiers, varied themes such as love, passion, avarice and cruelty. His sharp powers of observation combine with an amused and humane view of human vices and virtues, so that every tale contains a grain of truth, an element of surprise and something to make the reader stop and think, even to shock them on occasions.
There are 17 stories in this little collection and I enjoyed all of them. My favourites were those with a sadness at their heart, but there are also some very funny comic scenes. I particularly liked Two Friends , The Necklace and Love, but every one of these stories has something to offer and admire.
There are 17 stories in this little collection and I enjoyed all of them. My favourites were those with a sadness at their heart, but there are also some very funny comic scenes. I particularly liked Two Friends , The Necklace and Love, but every one of these stories has something to offer and admire.
November 28, 2019
Recuerdo sus cuentos de cuando nos lo mandaban a leer en el colegio. Acertadas sus ávidas descripciones de una París del siglo XIX, las emociones de sus personajes, diálogos cortos, precisos y lleno de suspenso; Maupassant es un digno escritor de cuentos que todo escritor de cuentos de suspenso debería leerse al menos una vez en su vida. De los cuentos que más me fascinaron fueron: "El Collar" por su carácter humorístico y lleno de ironía, "Los Soldados" por recordarme a mis amigos cercanos, "Junto a un cadáver" por referencias al filosofo Schopenhauer, y "La Mano" y "El Lobo" por su excelente narrativa sencilla y llena de suspenso.
March 5, 2018
Sauvage içini çekti:
"Her savaşta mutlaka bir galip, bir de mağlup vardır. Bu bir hayat mücadelesi."
Morissot acı acı güldü:
"Ölüm mücadelesi demek daha doğru olur." (sf 69)
"Her savaşta mutlaka bir galip, bir de mağlup vardır. Bu bir hayat mücadelesi."
Morissot acı acı güldü:
"Ölüm mücadelesi demek daha doğru olur." (sf 69)
May 13, 2020
Disappointing to say the least. Time for Thomas Bernhard.
August 27, 2020
Say no more.
February 21, 2023
En sevdiğim öykü “Bayan Harriet” oldu.
“Hayatta ,muhakkak ki, birçok mutsuz insanlar vardı.Acımasız doğadaki o ebedi adaletsizliğin bu insanın üzerine nasıl çökmüş olduğunu hissediyordum!Belki de dünyada en kısmetsiz insanların bile sahip oldukları şeyleri hiçbir vakit göremeden,bir kez bile olsa,sevilme ümidi besleyemeyen onun için her şey bitmişti artık.Bunun için mi gizleniyor,bunun için mi başkalarından kaçıyordu?İnsan olmayan her şeyi,bütün canlıları bunun için mi o kadar çok seviyordu?”
“Hayatta ,muhakkak ki, birçok mutsuz insanlar vardı.Acımasız doğadaki o ebedi adaletsizliğin bu insanın üzerine nasıl çökmüş olduğunu hissediyordum!Belki de dünyada en kısmetsiz insanların bile sahip oldukları şeyleri hiçbir vakit göremeden,bir kez bile olsa,sevilme ümidi besleyemeyen onun için her şey bitmişti artık.Bunun için mi gizleniyor,bunun için mi başkalarından kaçıyordu?İnsan olmayan her şeyi,bütün canlıları bunun için mi o kadar çok seviyordu?”
November 6, 2013
Membaca ini memang terasa sangat sederhana (dari kisah-kisah di sekitar kita) tetapi dituturkan dengan apik oleh Guy de Maupassant.
Cinta Sejati cerita tentang seorang wanita miskin tukang tambal kursi yang mencintai seorang Chouquet sejak lelaki itu masih kecil. Bermula karena Chouquet kehilangan uang, dan si tukang tambal kursi memberinya uang. Dari sanalah cinta bermula. Hingga Chouquet menjadi dewasa dan menajdi dokter. Si tukang kursi meninggal. Saat diberi tahu bahwa ada seorang miskin yang mencintainya, Chouquet marah karena kehormatannya dilecehkan. Tetapi saat diberi tahu bahwa tukang kursi itu memariskan beberapa ribu franc dan sebuah kereta untuknya, ia tetap menerima. Tanpa pernah membalas cinta.
Dan kisah-kisah lainnya sederhana.
Cinta Sejati cerita tentang seorang wanita miskin tukang tambal kursi yang mencintai seorang Chouquet sejak lelaki itu masih kecil. Bermula karena Chouquet kehilangan uang, dan si tukang tambal kursi memberinya uang. Dari sanalah cinta bermula. Hingga Chouquet menjadi dewasa dan menajdi dokter. Si tukang kursi meninggal. Saat diberi tahu bahwa ada seorang miskin yang mencintainya, Chouquet marah karena kehormatannya dilecehkan. Tetapi saat diberi tahu bahwa tukang kursi itu memariskan beberapa ribu franc dan sebuah kereta untuknya, ia tetap menerima. Tanpa pernah membalas cinta.
Dan kisah-kisah lainnya sederhana.
March 8, 2017
Guy de Maupassant was very good at writing short stories. My O/A level French teacher loved them and so I read several in French. I loved them too.
This collection contains some of de Maupassant's best known short stories, in the original French and in translation. The translator's have tried to strike a balance between the flavour of the original and a direct translation of the actual words. They have generally succeeded and this is a good introduction to one of France's funniest, most observant and insightful authors.
This collection contains some of de Maupassant's best known short stories, in the original French and in translation. The translator's have tried to strike a balance between the flavour of the original and a direct translation of the actual words. They have generally succeeded and this is a good introduction to one of France's funniest, most observant and insightful authors.
March 4, 2009
Great stories so far...somewhat dark, but nice use of irony, and the dual-language aspect is great for people trying to increase their reading ability in French while still being able to see the way the text is translated into English.
August 30, 2010
Guy de Maupassant's writing is so alive and descriptive that you can't help but feel and live inside the worlds he creates. He draws you completely into a wirl of french passions, emotions, desires and personalities.
February 28, 2017
Somewhere between Twain and Dostoyevsky. Masterful stories that brim with humanity and teem with life.
August 18, 2019
A book with the best short stories by him. I had read a few recently as I am reading lots of his works. So in this book there are several I have already read. Really liked it.
June 10, 2023
Well observed, psychologically perceptive and morally seeing the world as unjust, society unfit.
Boule de Suif: The prose style was unremarkable and I engaging at first but then …The amorality of the fellow travellers and the development of the story - that the courtesan share everything she has when they are hungry, is forced to sleep with the Prussian officer to allow their journey to continue, and is then treated with contempt and they refuse to share their food in return - “the two nuns returned to their prayers, after carefully wrapping up their remaining sausage” rather than see the person in need in front of them, when they’d convinced her to commit a sinful act because it would rescue them all. Was engaging.
The Necklace- the folly of desire and Mademoiselle Pearl - the lack of point of self denial based on society mores- are engaging stories of loss. The Piece of String and The Pig of a Morin show how unjustified societal blame and shame can lead to misery (in both cases the protagonist does by withering away)
I asked myself as to whether the author was a misogynist - but Useless Beauty has such a powerful lead character. After seven births she is still beautiful but sees the husband not living children, but using them as a way to control her from society. Her like that one isn’t his gives her six years peace and the deception is a deserved revenge.
The Olive Garden has a clever twist- a terrible woman who takes advantage of him and then a terrible son who maybe seeks to reconcile but is actually after more, where it looks like the son cuts the pious fathers throat but in fact the father may have taken his own life
Happiness contrasts so beautifully and so happily with The Necklace. The way that Corsica rises off the coast as an apparition, a physical manifestation of the simplicity of love
“All night, as I listened to the hoarse breathing of the old soldier, beside her who had followed him so far, I thought of this strange and simple adventure, of this happiness, which was so complete bit was made up of so little.
One of the women said: ‘All the same that woman had too simple an ideal, with her too primitive needs and wants. She must have been a fool’
Another said quietly: ‘What does it matter? She was happy’
Away on the horizon Corsica buried itself in the darkness, disappearing slowly into the sea, from which it had risen itself to tell the story of the two humble lovers whom its shores had sheltered”
Boule de Suif: The prose style was unremarkable and I engaging at first but then …The amorality of the fellow travellers and the development of the story - that the courtesan share everything she has when they are hungry, is forced to sleep with the Prussian officer to allow their journey to continue, and is then treated with contempt and they refuse to share their food in return - “the two nuns returned to their prayers, after carefully wrapping up their remaining sausage” rather than see the person in need in front of them, when they’d convinced her to commit a sinful act because it would rescue them all. Was engaging.
The Necklace- the folly of desire and Mademoiselle Pearl - the lack of point of self denial based on society mores- are engaging stories of loss. The Piece of String and The Pig of a Morin show how unjustified societal blame and shame can lead to misery (in both cases the protagonist does by withering away)
I asked myself as to whether the author was a misogynist - but Useless Beauty has such a powerful lead character. After seven births she is still beautiful but sees the husband not living children, but using them as a way to control her from society. Her like that one isn’t his gives her six years peace and the deception is a deserved revenge.
The Olive Garden has a clever twist- a terrible woman who takes advantage of him and then a terrible son who maybe seeks to reconcile but is actually after more, where it looks like the son cuts the pious fathers throat but in fact the father may have taken his own life
Happiness contrasts so beautifully and so happily with The Necklace. The way that Corsica rises off the coast as an apparition, a physical manifestation of the simplicity of love
“All night, as I listened to the hoarse breathing of the old soldier, beside her who had followed him so far, I thought of this strange and simple adventure, of this happiness, which was so complete bit was made up of so little.
One of the women said: ‘All the same that woman had too simple an ideal, with her too primitive needs and wants. She must have been a fool’
Another said quietly: ‘What does it matter? She was happy’
Away on the horizon Corsica buried itself in the darkness, disappearing slowly into the sea, from which it had risen itself to tell the story of the two humble lovers whom its shores had sheltered”
November 20, 2018
I've finished this book one month back but summarising the stories into 12 pages, that's the part that took me an eternity. The author is famous for his short satirical stories, and the one that I read back in school was "Necklace", the story about how a misunderstanding cost a couple 10 years of their life and youth. GDMP (the author) wrote various stories about people in this one, several of them with the background of the Prussian (Germans) invasion of France, and how normal civilians shown astounding bravery and patriotism during those trying times. My favorite is "Two friends", the shortest but the most powerful piece. There were also several stories describing the hypocrisy of people, such as 'Boule de Suif', "Madame Husson's 'Rosier'" and "The piece of string". One of the stories "The Olive Orchard" reminded me of scenes in The Count of Monte Cristo, the vile people that schemed and committed heinous crimes. Overall it was a satisfying read and I was glad I bought this book without knowing at all what it was about.
July 18, 2018
Kalau di kumcer O. Henry yg kubaca sebelumnya ada The Gift of Magi, maka di antologi ini ada Diamond Neckless yang sudah jadi favku sepanjang masa. Tapi setelah kubaca buku ini, semuanya, 8 cerpen dan 1 novela, masuk dalam seleraku. Tema kisahnya, karakterisasinya, juga twist di akhir cerita. Sedikit depresif dan pahit, tapi realis.
Selain cerpen Kalung Berlian tersebut, 2 cerita lainnya menarik perhatianku. Yang satu adalah
My Wife, berkisah dengan jenaka tentang bagaimana Pierre Letoile muda mendapatkan istri istimewanya, yang lain adalah novela yang melambungkan nama de Maupassant di sastra dunia, Boule de Suif. Cerita ini pahit, penuh hipokrisme, dan memotret dengan sangat pas kemunafikan manusia. Endingnya... wah endingnya. Bahkan kaum agamis yang disimbolkan dengan 2 orang biarawati terlihat sangat sok suci dan sejatinya tak peduli.
Untuk edisi terbitan Serambi ini, yup judul2 cerpennya bbrp masih diterjemahkan secara sinetronis sekalee, plus cover yang berasa zadul. Ya gitu d. Tapi isi terjemahannya bagus kok.
Selain cerpen Kalung Berlian tersebut, 2 cerita lainnya menarik perhatianku. Yang satu adalah
My Wife, berkisah dengan jenaka tentang bagaimana Pierre Letoile muda mendapatkan istri istimewanya, yang lain adalah novela yang melambungkan nama de Maupassant di sastra dunia, Boule de Suif. Cerita ini pahit, penuh hipokrisme, dan memotret dengan sangat pas kemunafikan manusia. Endingnya... wah endingnya. Bahkan kaum agamis yang disimbolkan dengan 2 orang biarawati terlihat sangat sok suci dan sejatinya tak peduli.
Untuk edisi terbitan Serambi ini, yup judul2 cerpennya bbrp masih diterjemahkan secara sinetronis sekalee, plus cover yang berasa zadul. Ya gitu d. Tapi isi terjemahannya bagus kok.
July 10, 2023
English review below the Greek one...
Είχα διαβάσει παλιότερα αυτές τις ιστορίες στα Ελληνικά, τώρα τις πέτυχα στα Αγγλικά. Όπως συμβαίνει συνήθως με τις συλλογές, κάποιες ιστορίες μου άρεσαν περισσότερο από άλλες, για διαφορετικούς λόγους η καθεμία. Αυτές που δεν μου άρεσαν τόσο πολύ δεν ήταν κακές πάντως και είχαν προϋποθέσεις για κάτι καλύτερο.
Αξιοπρεπές βιβλίο να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του...
Not judging this very strictly:
Boule De Suif 4/5
Two Friends 4/5
Madame Tellier's Establishment 4/5
Mademoiselle Fifi 4/5
Claire de Lune 3/5
Miss Harriet 3/5
The Necklace 4/5
Mademoiselle Pearl 4/5
The Piece of String 3/5
Madame Husson's "Rosier" 4/5
That Pig of a Morin 3/5
Useless Beauty 4/5
The Olive Orchard 4/5
A Deal 4/5
Love 3/5
Two Little Soldiers 3/5
Happiness 3/5
I liked some stories better than others for different reason each and I feel that even the one's I didn't like that much had much potential.
A decent book to pass the time.
Είχα διαβάσει παλιότερα αυτές τις ιστορίες στα Ελληνικά, τώρα τις πέτυχα στα Αγγλικά. Όπως συμβαίνει συνήθως με τις συλλογές, κάποιες ιστορίες μου άρεσαν περισσότερο από άλλες, για διαφορετικούς λόγους η καθεμία. Αυτές που δεν μου άρεσαν τόσο πολύ δεν ήταν κακές πάντως και είχαν προϋποθέσεις για κάτι καλύτερο.
Αξιοπρεπές βιβλίο να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του...
Not judging this very strictly:
Boule De Suif 4/5
Two Friends 4/5
Madame Tellier's Establishment 4/5
Mademoiselle Fifi 4/5
Claire de Lune 3/5
Miss Harriet 3/5
The Necklace 4/5
Mademoiselle Pearl 4/5
The Piece of String 3/5
Madame Husson's "Rosier" 4/5
That Pig of a Morin 3/5
Useless Beauty 4/5
The Olive Orchard 4/5
A Deal 4/5
Love 3/5
Two Little Soldiers 3/5
Happiness 3/5
I liked some stories better than others for different reason each and I feel that even the one's I didn't like that much had much potential.
A decent book to pass the time.
March 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this collection. The writing is clever and fun, full of personality. There were a few sentences I would read and reread because of how beautiful and evocative they were.
The collection is very provincial, capturing small town life. de Maupassant really dislikes Prussians and his depiction of women, while sympathetic, is quite outdated. He captures the sublime of nature very well, especially in the story, Clair de Lune. Overall, this is an excellently well written collection of short stories that acts as a French time capsule. Reminds me a bit of Chekhov and, at very small times, Munroe.
I really disliked the introduction, which spent the entire time trying to counter de Maupassant's detractors, rather set up the collection. Only if you are involved in de Maupassant debate will the introduction be useful.
The collection is very provincial, capturing small town life. de Maupassant really dislikes Prussians and his depiction of women, while sympathetic, is quite outdated. He captures the sublime of nature very well, especially in the story, Clair de Lune. Overall, this is an excellently well written collection of short stories that acts as a French time capsule. Reminds me a bit of Chekhov and, at very small times, Munroe.
I really disliked the introduction, which spent the entire time trying to counter de Maupassant's detractors, rather set up the collection. Only if you are involved in de Maupassant debate will the introduction be useful.
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