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Original Short Stories — Volume 05

by Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893)

  • Free to read
  • 3 hours to read
  • 11 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"Original Short Stories — Volume 05" by Guy de Maupassant is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century, reflecting the intricacies of human relationships and social dynamics in a rapidly changing world. The initial story, "Monsieur Parent," introduces readers to the main character, Monsieur Parent, who navigates the turmoil of his familial life, grappling with infidelity and societal expectations in a tense domestic setting. The stories that follow promise a diverse exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and existential reflection. At the start of "Monsieur Parent," we are immersed in the life of a man deeply devoted to his son, George, yet increasingly troubled by the emotional distance and infidelity of his wife. The scene unfolds in a park, where George plays innocently as his father reflects on their relationship and the looming presence of his wife's long absences. As the narrative progresses, the tension escalates with the revelation of his wife's affairs, particularly with a man named Limousin, prompting a devastating emotional confrontation for Parent. This opening portion skillfully sets the stage for a drama filled with jealousy, despair, and the longing for paternal connection, inviting readers to ponder the complexities of trust and family loyalty in Maupassant's nuanced storytelling.

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  • Short stories, French · Translations into English

Read the opening

Monsieur Parent

George's father was sitting in an iron chair, watching his little son with concentrated affection and attention, as little George piled up the sand into heaps during one of their walks. He would take up the sand with both hands, make a mound of it, and put a chestnut leaf on top. His father saw no one but him in that public park full of people.

The sun was just disappearing behind the roofs of the Rue Saint-Lazare, but still shed its rays obliquely on that little, overdressed crowd. The chestnut trees were lighted up by its yellow rays, and the three fountains before the lofty porch of the church had the appearance of liquid silver.

Monsieur Parent, accidentally looking up at the church clock, saw that he was five minutes late. He got up, took the child by the arm, shook his dress, which was covered with sand, wiped his hands, and led him in the direction of the Rue Blanche. He walked quickly, so as not to get in after his wife, and the child could not keep up with him. He took him up and carried him, though it made him pant when he had to walk up the steep street. He was a man of forty, already turning gray, and rather stout. At last he reached his house. An old servant who had brought him up, one of those trusted servants who are the tyrants of families, opened the door to him.

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Contents

  1. Volume V
  2. Monsieur Parent
  3. Queen Hortense
  4. Timbuctoo
  5. Tombstones
  6. Mademoiselle Pearl
  7. The Thief
  8. Clair De Lune
  9. After
  10. Forgiveness
  11. In the Spring
  12. A Queer Night in Paris

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About this edition

This free edition of Original Short Stories — Volume 05 by Guy de Maupassant comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #3081, released 2004-10-03. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Short Stories, French Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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