An Apparition by Guy De Maupassant
The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her family's estate after being away for several years. She is met with suspicion and hostility by the other characters, particularly her brother-in-law, who harbors a dark secret. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the brother-in-law has been embezzling funds from his employer and is now in deep financial trouble. The young woman's presence threatens to expose his deceit, leading him to become increasingly unhinged. The story builds towards a tragic confrontation between the two characters, with devastating consequences for all involved.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1884 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction · 3,129 words
Editions
First lines
We were speaking of sequestration apropos of a recent lawsuit. It was at the close of an evening amongst friends, at an old house in the Rue de Grenelle, and each of us had a story to tell, a story alleged to be true. Then, the old Marquis de la Tour Samuel, who was eighty-two, rose, and, leaning on the mantelpiece, said, in somewhat shaky tones:
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Genres
- Horror — The story features supernatural elements and evokes fear through the protagonist's encounter with an apparition.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting includes an abandoned château and themes of death, loss, and psychological terror, characteristic of Gothic literature.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative explores the protagonist's mental state and emotional turmoil, particularly in relation to fear and trauma.
- Mystery — The disappearance of the protagonist's friend and the unexplained events create a sense of intrigue and unresolved questions.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Short Story · French Literature · Realism · Gothic Horror · Supernatural · Mystery · Atmosphere of Dread · Isolation · Loneliness · Paranoid Delusions · Madness
What this Textopian page supports
An Apparition is listed on Textopian as a novel by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1884 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Guy De Maupassant
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Literary Fiction
- Length: 3,129 words
- Structure: 1 section, 56 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Apparition by Guy De Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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