Boule De Suif by Guy De Maupassant
The story revolves around a group of travelers stranded in a small town during the Franco-Prussian War. They are forced to stay overnight and must decide whether to sacrifice their morals for the sake of convenience. The main character, a courtesan, is torn between her desire for comfort and her sense of dignity.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1880 · Genre: Realism, Historical Fiction, Social Commentary · 17,390 words
Editions
First lines
For several days in succession straggling remnants of the routed army had passed through the town. They were not the regular army, but a disjointed rabble, the men unshaven and dirty, their uniforms in tatters, slouching along without regimental colors, without order -- worn out, broken down, incapable of thought or resolution, marching from pure habit and dropping with fatigue the moment they stopped. The majority belonged to the militia, men of peaceful pursuits, retired from business, sinking under the weight of their accoutrements; quick-witted little militiamen as prone to terror as they were to enthusiasm, as ready to attack as they were to fly; and here and there a few red trousers, remnants of a company mowed down in one of the big battles; sombre-coated artillerymen, side by side with these various uniforms of the infantry, and now and then the glittering helmet of a heavily booted dragoon who followed with difficulty the march of the lighter-footed soldiers of the line.
What this Textopian page supports
Boule De Suif is listed on Textopian as a novel by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1880 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: 1880 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Historical Fiction, Social Commentary, Short Story, Naturalism
- Length: 17,390 words
- Structure: 1 section, 273 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Boule De Suif 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
- Realism — The narrative focuses on the everyday lives and moral dilemmas of characters, reflecting social realities.
- Historical Fiction — The story is set during the Franco-Prussian War, incorporating historical events and their impact on society.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques social class distinctions and human behavior in times of crisis.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise and structured as a short story, focusing on a specific incident.
Tags
Short Story · French Literature · Realism · Social Commentary · Satire · Anti-War · Feminist Themes · Marriage · Class Conflict · Morality · Ethics · Society