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Bel Ami

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Bel Ami, written at the height of Guy de Maupassant's powers, is a classic novel of seduction, intrigue, and ruthless social climbing in belle époque Paris. Georges Duroy, a down-and-out journalist with a modest background, ascends the ranks of Parisian society by manipulating his relationships with influential and wealthy women. Known for his charm and good looks, which earn him the nickname "Bel Ami", he exploits others' vulnerabilities to secure his position, ultimately betraying the one woman who supports him selflessly. Published in 1885, the novel offers a vivid portrait of a corrupt and glamorous Paris, as well as a timeless critique of ambition, sexuality, and power.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5800

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This novel is suited to readers who appreciate classic literature, particularly those interested in French literature and social dramas exploring themes of ambition and moral complexity.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Bel Ami, written at the height of Guy de Maupassant’s powers, is a classic novel of seduction, intrigue, and ruthless social climbing in belle époque Paris.

Georges Duroy is a down-and-out journalist from a humble background who engineers a stunning rise to the top of Parisian society through his relationships with influential and wealthy women. Making the most of his charm and good looks (his admirers nickname him “Bel Ami”), Duroy exploits the weaknesses of others to his own advantage—in the process betraying the woman who has most selflessly supported him.

Published in 1885, Bel Ami is not only a vivid portrait of a glamorously corrupt and long-vanished Paris, but also a strikingly modern exposé of the destructiveness of unconstrained ambition, sex, and power.

Translated from the French by Ernest Boyd.

Series: Vintage Classics

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780307740885

Publisher: Random House USA Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 October 2010

Country: United States

Imprint: Vintage Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 202.0mm

Weight: 318g

Pages: 368

About the Author

The French writer Guy de Maupassant (1850-93), a protégé of Flaubert, was known for his hugely influential short stories and the vivid realism of his novels. He was born in Normandy and served in the Franco-Prussian War, which would become the subject of some of his best-known stories. Maupassant wrote six novels and nearly three hundred stories, among them “The Necklace,” “Boule de Suif,” “The Horla,” and “Mademoiselle Fifi.” His financial and critical success as a writer made him a prominent figure in fashionable society, but in his last few years he suffered mental and physical symptoms of the syphilis he had contracted in his early years. After a suicide attempt in 1892 he was committed to a private asylum, where he died the following year at the age of 42.

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