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Bel-Ami (Penguin Classics)

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Guy De Maupassant (1850-1893), if "Bel-Ami" is any indication, must rank as one of the best writers in the history of the western world. Born in Normandy in 1850, Maupassant became a disciple of the French author Flaubert early in life. Guy quit his job with the civil service after publishing his first short story, "Boule de Suif" in 1880. What followed was a phenomenal flurry of 250 short stories and six novels before his premature death from syphilis in 1893. During his short life, Maupassant helped to form the "groupe de Medan," a loosely knit group of naturalist writers headed by Emile Zola. He also worked as a journalist, covering such important events as the French campaigns in Algeria and Tunisia. A hard worker when it came to writing, Maupassant also possessed a zest for life, including a love for the ladies that eventually killed him.

"Bel-Ami" is hardly an original premise. How many books written through the years discuss the idea of a rural man heading to the city to make it big? That is exactly what happens with this book in the form of main character Georges Duroy. After a five-year stint in the French army, Duroy moves to Paris to make his fortune. Regrettably, Duroy is languishing in a lowly job as a railroad clerk until he meets his old army buddy Forestier. From this point forward, Georges is on the fast track to success. Forestier gets him a job at a scandal rag named "La Vie Francaise" where Georges rapidly ascends the ranks from lowly reporter to chief editor. Along the way, Duroy engages in all sorts of amorous adventures with women both high and low on the Paris social register. By the time the story ends, Georges is within sight of the highest positions in French society, all accomplished through sheer cunning and social maneuvering.

There are so many themes running through this sordid tale of the decadent Third Republic that it is impossible to adequately describe them all here. The introduction to this Penguin edition, written by translator Douglas Parmee, does a good job of showing how incidents in Maupassant's life appear in the character of Georges Duroy. The protagonist's rural background, his experience in France's North African expeditions, his work as a reporter and the subsequent expose of the seediness of journalism, the numerous affairs, the social positioning, and the philosophical musings on death are all expressions of Maupassant's personality and activities. I do hope, however, that Maupassant was not as big of a cad as Georges Duroy because this character may be one of the biggest jerks in the history of literature.

You cannot help but hate Duroy. He has little self-control except when he realizes that holding off on a conquest might mean self-advancement. Georges takes his mistress to the same theater where he picks up prostitutes, takes money from people without paying them back, corrupts women of high moral standards, sleeps with his boss's wife, seduces his boss's daughter, and physically assaults his mistress. There is just no way to sympathize with this guy, and the fact that he gains riches and fame is particularly galling to anyone with any sense of decency. But that is the message De Maupassant is trying to convey; that the complete decadence of French society during this time allows the likes of Duroy to succeed, and to succeed with a smile. Witness the scene towards the end of the book when Walter, Duroy's boss, grudgingly accedes his daughter to Georges's slimy scheme. "He will go far," says Walter, with more respect for Duroy's distasteful achievement than disdain for his lack of morals.

Another theme in the book, and one that runs through the pages like a 400-pound gorilla, is hypocrisy. The propensities for backstabbing, lying, and blatant disregard for self-realization in "Bel-Ami" is laugh out loud astonishing. These are shallow, manipulative people without a shred of decency, and Maupassant never passes up an opportunity to expose these despicable people. The hypocritical stance of the characters and situations often vie with powerfully descriptive passages of Paris and the French countryside, which are truly beautiful to read and have probably accounted for thousands of tourist trips to that country. The characters in "Bel-Ami" may be of no account morally, but they move and live in an environment of unsurpassed beauty.

Maupassant's knowledge of his own impending death weighs heavily in the story. Two sections highlight his musings on mortality: the monologue of the poet Norbert de Varenne and the death of Forestier. For the author, his slow deterioration from a disease made death a daily reality. What seemed to worry De Maupassant the most about death was not punishment from God but the idea of nothingness and being forgotten by the living. Of course, death makes no impression on Georges Duroy, who experiences only a moderate twinge over the passing of Forestier before making a play for that man's wife in order to improve his social position.

I am elated that I discovered this author. Guy De Maupassant is a brilliant writer whose early death robbed the world of a great talent. Although his short stories are considered some of the best ever written, do not pass by this novel. I have rarely seen an author who can write about mundane, daily situations with as much aplomb (see the scene about the fencing party as a prime example). De Maupassant's masterful abilities make this ordinary plot strikingly original and I will revisit this author again in the future. You should too.

I would never have known that Guy de Maupassant wrote novels along with his great short stories if another amazon reader hadn't turned me on to their existence. This novel, reminiscent of Madame Bovary (a male version, you might say) is terrific. You'll get a great deal of description of Paris in the late 19th century with period details worthy of any great novelist. The plot is typical: poor, rural young man from the outskirts (Rouen) has no money and no position in life, but longs to find fame and fortune. Thanks to his manly wiles (he's a natural ladies' man), he manages to sleep his way to the top. Like Madame Bovary, happiness is never really there no matter how much money and power he attains - the more you get, the more you realize that others will always have more. Still, Monsieur Duroy, even at his most calculating retains somewhat of a sympathetic quality that allows us to relate to him and root for his success. Despite its length, this novel is a fast read. One of my favorites of the year.

Maupassant's characters are more real and colourful than those created by any of the other French naturalists. Bel Ami, his first fill length novel, is simply a joy to read. It tells the story a young ex-soldier, fighting for social position and materialism in the rat race of 1870s Paris. This novel could easily be transported to present day and loose nothing of its impact. Scandal, political intrigue and sexual manipulation are described with Maupassant's cutting pessimism, yet beautifully balanced by his black wit and appreciation for the simple joys of life.

Has anyone ever asked you what 5 books you'd take with you to a desert island? Consider Bel Ami.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. The characters, social climbers of questionable morals in 19th century Paris, could be on the social scene in modern New York, LA, or Washington today. It's a rare book that can get inside the head of a character with no redeeming virtues whatsoever, and to do so as part of such an entertaining and compelling story. This is a book you will turn to many times, whether you're stuck on a desert island or not.

"Self-love for ever creeps out, like a snake, to sting anything which happens to stumble upon it." Lord Byron 1788-1824

This classic chronicles Georges Duroy's (the main protagonist of the novel) quick rise to power from a poor, lost, ex-soldier to one of the most successful men in all of Paris. Georges is a young man who has indeed been blessed. He's exceptionally handsome, smart, charismatic, resourceful, etc... however, like many men who have been spoiled by the gods, Georges is completely self-centered. It's all about him. He uses these gifts to exploit people, especially women, and without conscience, he manipulates his way to the top of his profession.

I have to honestly say that I have never despised a main male character in a novel more than I did Georges. He is such a lowly cad, a man who is completely amoral and sans ethics. While I was reading the novel I kept waiting for Georges to get his come-uppance. For truly no man can live a life so loathsome before Karma finally decides to pay him a visit. Maupassant's excellent writing style and the hopes that Georges would get his just do, were the two main reasons I kept turning the pages. I could imagine a feminist wanting to burn this book, because of the way the main protagonist deceives women. However, that being said, most of the female characters in the novel are almost just as bad as Georges. They all cheat on their spouses, are self-absorbed & consumed, and lack integrity.

Maupassant interpretation of the hypocritical world of the Paris privileged in the late 19th century is both vexatious and morose. I just can't believe that people could be so damn unprincipled! There wasn't anyone to really root for in this story, no one whom you could really build a connection toward. They were almost all repugnant, self-centered, immoral characters and in many ways the women were worse than the men. It's interesting to note, that Maupassant was good friends with Emile Zola. I can see quite a few similarities between this story and Zola's classic "Nana". Duroy, like Nana, comes from a poor, working class family and like the latter he is almost irresistible to any member of the opposite sex he sets his eyes upon. His sex appeal has no rivals and he is able to exploit these women one after another in order to rise among the Paris elite society. Duroy will go down in my book as the quintessential womanizer of classic literature.

I thoroughly enjoy the way Maupassant writes, but I must admit I had a very difficult time with this one when it was all said and done. Perhaps I was expecting something to happen that didn't. I will refrain from elaborating on that point, for fear it will relate too much about the novel. However, all that being stated, it's a story that does grab your interest and never seems to let go.

Is it possible to absolutely disdain every single characters in any literary form and abhor their actions ,but still love the book? yes, it is. If you read Guy de Maupassant's Bel-Ami, you will understand the question I raised.

Guy de Maupassant was a master story teller , especially his story stories were highly influential. Many writers have been influenced by his style which is an enhanced version of realism that Flaubert mastered when he was at the apex of his talent. This book "Bel-Ami" is his second novel and it's as entertaining as you expect.

The plot revolving around a scoundrel named Georges Duroy and show his ascension in Paris society during the third republic. Indeed, the time "Bel-Ami" is his nickname first used by a daughter of a woman with whom Duroy has an affiar. Except for being handsome and an expert of manupulation of female psyche, Duroy did not have absolutely no innate talent. However, his military service in Algeria happened to give hime a key to success. He met his comrades by chance and through him get into the door of the modern Babylon named Paris and works in aptly named newspaper "La Vie Francaise" as a journalist.
Duroy is the archetype of a unscrupulous modern man who is driven by an obssetion of clibming social ladder by any mean .On top of that,he seems to lack control of his libido. He continues to have affairs with several women throughout the book ,yet all these affairs have dual purposes which provide him benefit each time. How skillful Maupassant is well represented his talent of creating circumstances that seems to never allow any human decency, which only lead anyone to the steep descension in social hierachry rather than the opposite. So inadvertently vindicate our hero Duroy's action.

If we can experience July Monarch through Balzac's works, we are able to glance the third repulic in Guy de Maupassant's novel. As Balzac is highly critical of the life in Urbanity, so does Maupassant In "Bel Ami" It's excellent piece of work that show a segment and the deeply rotten core of the society concorrently.

Bel-Ami isn't the Maupassant most famous books . And one may knows him like a great short novel writor. But this book is just exceptional . The caustic but most of all disillusioned style of Maupassant , his clever and realistic vision of his time and social class is a real pleasure to read . The main character is adorable sometimes and two pages after you loathe him like you never hate someone ... Really one of the most striking book in my (short) readers life .

Although this seems to be a shortened version of the story, with maybe 50% of the original story, this is definitively a great novel.

I want to know if this was an edited version of this book. I read it years ago and I remember it being much more explicit. This book seems to be toned down quite a bit. Is this a rewritten book? Is there an original book available.?

Maupassant's classic novel provides insight into the politics and high society of France during the early Third Republic. Georges Duroy is the ultimate social climber, who manages to achieve wealth and power in a world that seems to reward scheming. But he is also representative of the "little man" who succeeded in France after 1870. His is a world pervaded by politics, dominated by the self-assured bourgeoisie, and focused on Paris as the center of French life.

Meanwhile, Maupassant depicts many of the important political and social trends of the day: the predominance of the haute bourgeoisie, corruption in politics, the too-cozy relationship between politicians and journalists, colonialism, secularization/anti-clericalism vs. religiosity or professed piety, antisemitism, relations between men and women marked by exploitation and hypocrisy.

Though the romantic scenes are a little ridiculous at times, "Bel-Ami" provides a terrific literary snapshot of a certain era in French history.