Bel-Ami
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Author Description
Maupassant's second novel, Bel-Ami (1885) is the story of a ruthlessly ambitious young man (Georges Duroy, christened "Bel-Ami" by his female admirers) making it to the top in fin-de-sihcle Paris. It is a novel about money, sex, and power, set against the background of the politics of the French colonization of North Africa. It explores the dynamics of an urban society uncomfortably close to our own and is a devastating satire of the sleaziness of contemporary journalism.Bel-Ami enjoys the status of an authentic record of the apotheosis of bourgeois capitalism under the Third Republic. But the creative tension between its analysis of modern behavior and its identifiably late nineteenth-century fabric is one of the reasons why Bel-Ami remains one of the finest French novels of its time, as well as being recognized as Maupassant's greatest achievement as a novelist.This new translation is complemented by fullest introduction and notes of any edition currently available.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
Georges Duroy, a penniless ex-soldier, manipulates his way into the upper echelons of Parisian society through calculated seduction and journalistic opportunism. Duroy arrives in Paris with little to his name, relying on his physical appearance and social charm to exploit the women he encounters. As he climbs the ladder of the newspaper industry, he navigates a world defined by greed, political corruption, and moral decay. The narrative follows his rise through a third-person perspective that exposes the cynical mechanics of his social advancement. His objective remains the acquisition of wealth and status, regardless of the personal cost to those he encounters.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Detailed depiction of the late nineteenth-century Parisian press
- Exploration of the intersection between sexual conquest and social mobility
- Critique of the bourgeois capitalist structures of the Third Republic
- Use of irony to highlight the protagonist's lack of genuine moral growth
- Vivid atmospheric descriptions of urban life and social settings
- Examination of the political motivations behind French colonial expansion
- Character-driven narrative focusing on the psychological profile of an opportunist
- Satirical commentary on the ethics of contemporary journalism
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers and critics frequently highlight the novel's biting portrayal of ambition and the stark realism with which Maupassant depicts the Parisian elite. Discussion often centers on the protagonist's lack of redeeming qualities, which serves to emphasize the author's critique of a society that rewards such behavior. The pacing is noted for its steady, relentless progression, mirroring Duroy's own calculated climb to power. Many observers appreciate the balance between the intimate character study and the broader historical context of the era. The work remains a subject of interest for its enduring relevance regarding the corrupting influence of money and media.
Page Count:
368
Publication Date:
2008-10-15
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199553939
ISBN-13:
9780199553938
Satire
English
classic
Historical
France fiction
English & College Success
French literature
Realism
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