Guy de Maupassant

Biography

Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) was a French author and one of the greatest short story writers in world literature. Born near Dieppe, Normandy, he was mentored by Gustave Flaubert and burst onto the literary scene with "Boule de Suif" (1880). Over the next decade, he produced nearly 300 short stories, six novels, and numerous travel writings. His stories are celebrated for their economy, sharp observation of human nature, and devastating ironic endings. Major works include the novel Pierre and Jean and stories like "The Necklace," "The Horla," and "Mademoiselle Fifi." He suffered from syphilis-related mental illness in his final years and died in an asylum at 42.