The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4

"The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4" by Guy de Maupassant is a collection of stories rich with emotion, typically set in late 19th century where stories like "The Old Maid" and "The Awakening" offer glimpses into loneliness, love, and connections between people. One story, "The Old Maid," presents Count Eustache d'Etchegorry, broken down and retreated with his daughter Marie-des-Anges to a lonely country house, who wants love but is stuck in a hard life influenced by her father's sadness. This sets the scene for her search for love, showing how she copes with what society expects and her duties to her family. Through character-focused stories and rich settings, the author displays the difficulties of life and inner struggles, giving insights into what it means to be human.