A New Year's Gift by Guy de Maupassant
The story revolves around a young woman who receives an anonymous gift on New Year's Eve. The gift is a small, exquisite music box that plays a haunting melody. As she tries to uncover the identity of the mysterious sender, she becomes increasingly obsessed with the music box and its significance in her life. Through her investigation, the protagonist uncovers a complex web of relationships and secrets within her social circle, ultimately leading her to question the true nature of the gift and its intentions. The story explores themes of love, obsession, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1883 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Psychological Fiction · 2,593 words
Editions
First lines
Jacques de Randal, having dined at home alone, told his valet he might go out, and he sat down at his table to write some letters.
He ended every year in this manner, writing and dreaming. He reviewed the events of his life since last New Year's Day, things that were now all over and dead; and, in proportion as the faces of his friends rose up before his eyes, he wrote them a few lines, a cordial New Year's greeting on the first of January.
What this Textopian page supports
A New Year's Gift is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Guy de Maupassant
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Realism, Social Commentary
- Length: 2,593 words
- Structure: 1 section, 93 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A New Year's Gift by Guy de Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Romance — The central theme revolves around a romantic relationship and the emotional dynamics between the characters.
- Drama — The narrative is driven by intense emotional conflicts and personal dilemmas.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the inner thoughts and motivations of the characters, exploring their psychological states.
- Realism — The writing style and depiction of characters and situations reflect a realistic portrayal of life and society.
Tags
French Literature · Short Story · Psychological Fiction · Realism · Social Commentary · Marriage · Relationships · Love · Infidelity · Deception · Moral Ambiguity · Human Nature