A Selection from the Writings of Guy De Maupassant, Vol. I

"A Selection from the Writings of Guy De Maupassant, Vol. I" by Guy de Maupassant is a treasury of short tales that looks at the highs and lows of human existence as experienced in France during the late 1800s. Within these pages, readers encounter stories that keenly observe the many sides of what makes people tick--how they feel, how they relate, and the problems they face in society--all shown through detailed characters and vibrant plots. The book starts with "Mademoiselle Fifi," a gripping story set during the Franco-Prussian War that introduces the realities of war through the eyes of Prussian officers occupying a French chateau; these bored officers plan a night of entertainment with local women, but the revelry turns grim when a dispute leads to a soldier’s death and a woman’s flight, setting the stage what to expect from the other stories, which is an examination of the hidden, darker aspects that can be lurking just beneath the surface of ordinary life.