The Tales of Guy de Maupassant (1977, Easton Press edition) is a sumptuous collector’s volume showcasing the masterful short stories of Guy de Maupassant, the 19th-century French literary giant renowned for his precision, irony, and unflinching portraits of human nature. This Easton Press edition, bound in rich leather with gilt accents and printed on archival paper, elevates Maupassant’s work into a tactile work of art, befitting his status as a pioneer of the modern short story.
The collection includes iconic tales like:
- “The Necklace” (La Parure), a devastating twist on vanity and class.
- “Boule de Suif”, a scathing critique of hypocrisy during the Franco-Prussian War.
- “The Horla”, a chilling precursor to psychological horror.
Maupassant’s stories—often set in Normandy or Paris—blend realism with razor-sharp satire, exposing the greed, lust, and folly beneath bourgeois respectability. His influence echoes in writers from Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain to H.P. Lovecraft, and this edition honors his legacy with heirloom-quality craftsmanship.
