Afloat [Hardcover]

Guy De Maupassant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 1996

First published in 1888, Sur l'Eau is arranged like a journal and constitutes an intimate foray into Maupassant's thoughts: I wrote this journal of day-dreams for myself alone, or rather I took advantage of my solitude afloat to halt the wandering ideas that cross our minds like birds."" There are few great books about sailing on pleasure boats, but this is definitely one of them. This edition also contains three previously unpublished translations of articles by Maupassant and includes a selection of Rioui's elegant, delicate drawings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Douglas Parmee's fresh new translation brings to light a book that, more so than any of his renowned short stories, shows Maupassant the man, as he might have been known to contemporary readers of his copious journalism in fin de siecle Paris. Recounting a short week spent yachting on the French Riviera, Maupassant's fictionalized memoir crystallizes the mixed motives that lead to so many of our vacations. He is at once cynical and Romantic; he is a misanthrope who can't get enough of man; he is a sophisticated raconteur who wants to talk to himself for a while." —Benjamin Lytal, The New York Sun

“In this deceptively simple way, he is a heart-stopping writer...like all the best travel books, it embraces reflections on a variety of subjects unconnected with travel...It has spontaneity, gaiety and freshness.” —Sara Wheeler, Daily Telegraph

“He describes–very beautifully–what he found essential in his cruise: the wind, the sounds, the odours, the mountains, the islands, and the effect they had on him and on his imagination...He can be compassionated, ecstatic about nature, jaundiced, cynical, arrogant, anguished. His diatribe against war is superb.” —Times Literary Supplement

“Along with serious reflections upon the human condition, this journal contains more whimsical wool-gatherings, touches of travelogue, much mischievous social observation on the boating set of the Cote d’Azur, as well as some enthusiastic outpourings upon the sheer joy of sailing. All of it is recorded with the precision you would expect of this master-miniaturist and with an easy sense of fun you might not.” —Scotsman

“M. De Maupassant writes thoughts such as were suggested by the rocking of the waves.” –The New York Times

“In M. Guy de Maupassant’s Afloat, there is a good deal that is graceful and suggestive, besides the strictly descriptive passages, in which the French writer’s skill is always noticeable. The book records the indolent pleasures of a summer cruise from Antibes to Monaco in a little yacht, the Bel Ami (a decidedly significant name to persons familiar with M. de Maupassant as a novelist) and pictures of the coast, of smooth and squally days, reflections, philosophical and other, and a hundred pretty trifles of thought and diction are united in it. It is very light and very pleasant reading…” –The Independent [UK]

“M. de Maupassant gives one delightful notes and jottings of a leisurely voyage in a roomy and comfortable yacht, appropriately called the ‘Bel-Ami,’ along the Riviera coast…the successive papers in the little book are exquisitely enjoyable reading.” –The Independent --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Peter Owen Ltd (July 10, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0720609666
• ISBN-13: 978-0720609660
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,020,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Afloat, June 15, 2008

By 

Thomas R. Lunde (Maine Coast) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Afloat (New York Review Books Classics) (Paperback)

As a sailor I read this little book like reading a yacht's log book. The device is fresh and alive. Much of how he wrote it captures the feeling of being with him on that yacht with the wind taking Guy, you and a wide range of thoughts anywhere on a whim. You are always brought back to the "Bel-Ami" itself to move forward-book as yacht. It has been said that to understand the French you had to read Guy de Maupassant. Well, to understand the spirit of the sailing life it doesn't hurt to read him either. Delightful.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From rant to poetry, October 9, 2008

By 

T. Bowden (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Afloat (New York Review Books Classics) (Paperback)

Slim book of essays written during a sailing journey, the tone ranges from beautiful, poetic descriptions of the ocean, weather, islands, and coastlines to--at the drop of a hat--hilarious rants against humanity. Imagine a colicky Thoreau and you've got the idea. Well worth the journey: sharply observed sketches of our world a century ago but as timely and accurate in its depictions of human conflict as anything written today.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thumping good read, December 2, 2008

By 

Jennfer Muller "rev.bart r.muller" (brighton. mi) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Afloat (New York Review Books Classics) (Paperback)

a wonderous interplay between sea and society, poorGuy he craved society yet it anoyed him. he seems happiest talking about the sea and gossiping. his meditations are a good read take it with you on a criuse, l did