The Necklace and Other Short Stories

The French author Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a master of the short story, creating detailed character studies and brief but moving dramas well suited to the genre.

The nine stories in this collection deliver a vivid portrait gallery of his typical subjects—from simple peasants and prostitutes to soldiers, government clerks, and provincial bourgeois. Brilliantly naturalistic, these short works also reveal Maupassant's ability to observe the innumerable details of everyday life and reproduce them artfully and accurately, often with a caustic sense of humor.

His literary talents are amply displayed in this volume, which includes these memorable tales: ‘Ball-of-Fat,’ regarded by many as technically one of the finest short stories ever written, ‘The Necklace,’ ‘A Piece of String,’ ‘Mme. Tellier's Establishment,’ ‘Mademoiselle Fifi,’ ‘Miss Harriet,’ ‘A Way to Wealth,’ ‘My Uncle Jules,’ and ‘The Horla.’

‘I had kissed her at odd times, in out-of-the-way corners, in the manner of a mountain guide, nothing more.’
—Guy de Maupassant (The Necklace and Other Short Stories)

Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) was one of France's greatest writers and a master of the short story. Celebrated for his clear, elegant prose and profound understanding of human nature, he transformed the art of short fiction through realistic storytelling, psychological insight, and unforgettable endings. During his remarkably productive career, he wrote more than 300 short stories, six novels, travel books, and numerous essays, earning a lasting place among the finest literary figures of the nineteenth century.

Born Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant on August 5, 1850, at the Château de Miromesnil in Normandy, France, he spent much of his childhood in the picturesque countryside that later became the setting for many of his stories. Following his parents' separation, he was raised primarily by his mother, who encouraged his love of literature. She was a close friend of the renowned novelist Gustave Flaubert, who became Maupassant's literary mentor and played a vital role in shaping his writing style and artistic discipline.

Maupassant's literary career began after serving in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, an experience that deeply influenced his view of society and inspired many of his works. His breakthrough came in 1880 with the publication of Boule de Suif, a powerful story that immediately established him as an outstanding new voice in French literature. Over the following decade, he produced a remarkable collection of stories exploring love, ambition, greed, fear, loneliness, and the struggles of ordinary people. His celebrated works include The Necklace, The Horla, Bel-Ami, Pierre and Jean, and A Woman's Life. His stories are admired for their realism, emotional depth, subtle irony, and concise yet powerful narrative style.

Although Maupassant achieved immense literary success, his later years were marked by declining physical and mental health. Suffering from the effects of illness, he continued to write until his condition worsened. He died on July 6, 1893, at the age of just forty-two.

Despite his short life, Guy de Maupassant left behind an extraordinary literary legacy. His mastery of characterization, economy of language, and keen observation of human behavior has influenced generations of writers across the world. Today, he is remembered as one of the greatest storytellers in world literature, whose works continue to captivate readers with their honesty, compassion, and timeless insight into the complexities of human life.