Editorial Reviews
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. Another theme in the book, and one that runs through the pages like a 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: 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.
Bel Ami - Wikipedia
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. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. I really enjoyed the novel, although it is long and at times I wondered if I'd finish. It seemed to bog down in places, and I didn't pick it up for a long time. Fortunately those places were few. I've read that de Maupassant is like a chronicler of the 3rd Republic of France.
I even did a short study of the 5 French republics. The novel is very captivating in the beginning, and thanks to my built in dictionary I was able to read the novel more easily. If you want to read a good novel that describes this time period well, I highly recommend this novel. In the beginning, however, working in a dead beat job, it's a former army buddy from the French conflict in Algeria who helps him out of the slumps by finding him a job in a sleazy newspaper.
This, and his relationships with certain women help advance his position in society. During the novel France also gets involved in a conflict with Morocco, which lands a few friends of Bel Ami and himself a fortune. This is the 3rd republic's colonial phase. I don't suppose it's much different than the US.
I must start confessing that Maupassant is one of my favorite writers. There is nothing that he has written that I wouldn't recommend. This novel is one of his very best works which highlights his skills as a writer and observer of human nature. It is amazing how the novel starts with the introduction of a character which manages to manipulate the reader into liking him.
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Maupassant's insight into France's aristocratic social life makes the reader feel present in every event and just like all characters of the book are deceived by Bell Ami, so is the reader - there are no survivors to a man whose mission is selfishness. Not sure if this is a condensed version or not because I cannot speak or read French, but I did thoroughly enjoy this story. Even know I know the movie won't be nearly as good they usually never are , I am looking forward to it. I am glad I found this affordable version for my Kindle. The story grabs you right from the first page.
It's an easy read and an interesting story. I am sure the movie version will be VERY steamy whereas of course the book isn't See all 74 reviews. Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway. Bel Ami German Edition. Set up a giveaway. There's a problem loading this menu right now.
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Learn more about Amazon Prime. He especially enjoys the conquest as he is her first extramarital lover. Later on, however, he regrets the decision, for he cannot get rid of her when he does not want her. Duroy's relations with his wife become estranged; at one point, he takes a police superintendent and three other police officers to a flat in which his wife is meeting Monsieur Laroche-Mathieu, her lover. They catch the two in the act of adultery , which was then a crime punishable under the law. Duroy used the police as witnesses of his wife's adultery to facilitate their divorce.
He did not have her or her lover arrested although the police gave him the option to do so. In the last two chapters, Duroy's ascent to power continues. Duroy, now a single man, makes use of his chief's daughter's infatuation with him, and arranges an elopement with her. The parents then have no other choice but to grant their assent to the marriage. The last chapter shows Duroy savouring his success at the wedding ceremony at which 'all those who figured prominently in society' are present.
His thoughts, however, chiefly belong to Mme de Marelle who, when wishing him all the best, indicates that she has forgiven him for his new marriage and that their intimate meetings can be taken up again. In July , Bel Ami: It premiered on July It was written and directed by Linnie Reedman, with music and lyrics composed by Joe Evans. The music and lyrics were written by Alex Loveless. John Braine , the English novelist, stated that his favourite author was Guy de Maupassant and that his first novel, Room at the Top , was based on Bel Ami , but 'the critics didn't pick it up'.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- Écloga de Jano e Franco (Portuguese Edition).
- MECHAM FAMILY - More History.
- Chattels (Conviction Series Book 1).
- Keys To Becoming A Divine Warrior;
- theranchhands.com: Bel-Ami: Roman (German Edition) eBook: Guy de Maupassant, Hermann Lindner: Kindle Store;
- The Wholesome Diet.
This article is about the French novel. For other uses, see Bel Ami disambiguation.
- Direito de Autor em Portugal, nos PALOP, na União Europeia e nos Tratados Internacionais (Portuguese Edition).
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- Cargoes and Harvests (Donald Culross Peattie Library).
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