These early works by Guy de Maupassant were originally published in the 1880's. As a collection of short stories, this represents Maupassant's tales of the Franco-Prussian War, and includes 'Two Little Soldiers', 'The Prisoners', 'The Lancer's Wife', 'Boule de Suif', 'A Coup D'etat', and many other titles. Guy de Maupassant was born in 1850 at the Château de Miromesnil, near Dieppe, France. He came from a prosperous family, but when Maupassant was eleven, his mother risked social disgrace by trying to secure a legal separation from her husband. After the split, Maupassant lived with his mother till he was thirteen, and inherited her love of classical literature. In 1880, Maupassant published his first - and, according to many, his best - short story, entitled 'Boule de Suif' ('Ball of Fat'). It was an instant success. He went on to be extremely prolific during the 1880s, working methodically to produce up to four volumes of short fiction every year. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions.

Boule de Suif (French pronunciation: ​[bul də sɥif]), translated variously as Dumpling, Butterball, Ball of Fat, or Ball of Lard, is a famous short story by the late 19th-century French writer Guy de Maupassant, first published on 15/16 April 1880. It is arguably his most famous short story and is the title story for his collection on the Franco-Prussian War, titled Boule de Suif et Autres Contes de la Guerre (Dumpling and Other Stories of the War).

When you want to read in both French and English, though, there

Explore the complexities of personal ambition and societal expectations in Guy de Maupassant’s Monsieur Parent, a narrative that offers a detailed look at the struggles and interactions of Monsieur Parent within his social environment. In Boule De Suif, Guy de Maupassant tells the powerful story of a courtesan known as Boule De Suif, whose character and actions become a focal point for examining social hypocrisy and moral judgment. The narrative is set against the backdrop of a journey during the Franco-Prussian War, and Maupassant uses this setting to critique the values and behaviors of the society surrounding Boule De Suif. The story is both a poignant social commentary and a compelling character study.

"Boule de Suif" (translated variously as "Dumpling", "Butterball", "Ball of Fat", or "Ball of Lard") is a famous short story by the late 19th-century French writer Guy de Maupassant first published on 15/16 April 1880. It is arguably his most famous short story and is the title story for his collection on the Franco-Prussian War, titled Boule de Suif et Autres Contes de la Guerre