Crash by Guy de Maupassant (1860)
The novel revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after serving in the military and becomes infatuated with a woman he meets at a ball. He begins an affair with her, but their relationship is complicated by her engagement to another man. The story explores themes of love, class, and social status.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1860 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Drama · 1,146 words
First lines
Love is stronger than death, and consequently also, than the greatest crash.
A young, and by no means bad-looking son of Palestine, and one of the barons of the Almanac of the _Ghetto_, who had left the field covered with wounds in the last general engagement on the Stock Exchange, used to go very frequently to the Universal Exhibition in Vienna in 1873, in order to divert his thoughts, and to console himself amidst the varied scenes, and the numerous objects of attraction there. One day he met a newly married couple in the Russian section, who had a very old coat of arms, but on the other hand, a very modest income.
What this Textopian page supports
Crash is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1860 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: 1860 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Social Commentary
- Length: 1,146 words
- Structure: 1 section, 46 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Crash by Guy de Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Crash?
- How does this short story by Guy de Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Satire — The story uses humor and irony to critique social norms and the behavior of the upper class.
- Comedy — The narrative includes humorous elements and situations, particularly in the interactions between characters.
- Drama — The plot involves intense emotional conflicts and personal relationships.
- Romance — The story centers around themes of love and romantic pursuit, albeit with a satirical twist.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · Tragic Love Story · Marriage · Infidelity · Deception · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · French Literature · 19th Century Literature · Short Story Collection · Literary Classic