Bel-ami

SKU: PR120934

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Sale price$37.80

Description

Discover the captivating world of Guy de Maupassant's 'Bel-Ami', a timeless classic that unveils the intricacies of ambition, seduction, and social climbing in 19th-century Paris. This brand new trade paperback, published by Penguin UK in 1976, is a vital addition to any literary collection. With 416 pages of sharp wit and keen social insight, this novel follows the journey of George Duroy, affectionately known as Bel-Ami, as he navigates through the morally ambiguous landscape of French journalism, enticing mistresses, and cunning financiers.

Maupassant brilliantly captures the spirit of the Belle Époque, detailing the pleasures and pitfalls of Parisian life through a vivid cast of characters. Translated by Douglas Parmee, this edition preserves the vigor and vitality of Maupassant’s poignant storytelling. Parmee's introduction provides a fascinating exploration of the parallels between Bel-Ami and the author’s life, enhancing your reading experience.

Perfect for lovers of classic literature, ‘Bel-Ami’ resonates with themes of desire and power that are as relevant today as they were when first penned. Dive into a scandalous tale where love serves as a tool for manipulation, and the societal norms of the time are laid bare. Whether you're revisiting this masterpiece or discovering it for the first time, 'Bel-Ami' is essential for anyone intrigued by the interplay of ambition and morality.

Order now for swift delivery and immerse yourself in this literary gem that resonates with ambition, cynicism, and the vibrant Parisian life.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780140443158
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 1976
Publisher: Penguin UK
Pages: 416


Description:
Guy de Maupassant's scandalous tale of an opportunistic young man corrupted by the allure of power, Bel-Ami is translated with an introduction by Douglas Parmee in Penguin Classics.
Young, attractive and very ambitious, George Duroy, known to his admirers as Bel-Ami, is offered a job as a journalist on La Vie francaise and soon makes a great success of his new career. But he also comes face to face with the realities of the corrupt society in which he lives - the sleazy colleagues, the manipulative mistresses and wily financiers - and swiftly learns to become an arch-seducer, blackmailer and social climber in a world where love is only a means to an end. Written when Maupassant was at the height of his powers, Bel-Ami is a novel of great frankness and cynicism, but it is also infused with the sheer joy of life - depicting the scenes and characters of Paris in the belle epoque with wit, sensitivity and humanity.
Douglas Parmee's translation captures all the vigour and vitality of Maupassant's novel. His introduction explores the similarities between Bel-Ami and Maupassant himself and demonstrates the skill with which the author depicts his large cast of characters and the French society of the Third Republic.
Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was born in Normandy. By the late 1870s, the first signs of syphilis had appeared, and Maupassant had become Flaubert's pupil in the art of prose. He led a hectic social life, and in 1891, having tried to commit suicide, he was committed to an asylum in Paris, where he died two years later.
If you enjoyed Bel-Ami, you might like William Makepeace Thackeray'

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