Strong as Death

"Strong as Death" by Guy de Maupassant is a story set in Paris that looks at the life of Olivier Bertin, a well-known painter dealing with a crisis of confidence in his art and his complicated relationship with the stunning Madame de Guilleroy. The novel looks at ideas about love, wanting something, and the personal battles of being an artist, all set against the backdrop of Parisian high society. Right from the start, we meet Bertin in his studio, struggling to find his next spark of creativity surrounded by the strong smells of his work. When Madame de Guilleroy enters the scene, their familiar dance of admiration and hidden feelings starts up again, showing just how deep their connection is and the strict rules of their world. As Bertin and the countess work through their feelings and goals, moments of love and longing start to appear, setting the scene for a story full of thought about what people do and say.