In a Railway Carriage by Guy De Maupassant
The story revolves around a young woman who boards a train and sits alone in a carriage. She is approached by an old man who strikes up a conversation with her. He asks her about her life and she responds with a series of lies, exaggerating her wealth and social status. The old man is taken in by her stories and becomes infatuated with her. As the train journey continues, the woman's fabrications become increasingly outlandish, but the old man remains convinced of their truth.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1888 · Genre: Realism, Drama, Social Commentary · 2,697 words
First lines
The sun was vanishing behind the vast chains of hills whose loftiest peak is the Puy de Dôme, and the shadow of the crests filled the deep valley of Royat.
Several people were strolling in the park, round the bandstand. Others were still sitting together in groups, in spite of the sharp evening air.
What this Textopian page supports
In a Railway Carriage is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Drama, Social Commentary, Short Story, Comedy
- Length: 2,697 words
- Structure: 1 section, 83 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In a Railway Carriage by Guy De Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Realism — The narrative focuses on everyday life and social issues, depicting the characters' concerns and interactions in a realistic manner.
- Drama — The story contains intense emotional moments and conflicts, particularly surrounding the birth and the reactions of the characters.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques societal norms and the perceptions of women, particularly in the context of motherhood and morality.
- Short Story — The work is concise and structured as a brief narrative, typical of the short story format.
Tags
Short Story · Realism · Psychological Insight · Train Journey · Lonely Woman · Inner Turmoil · Social Commentary · French Literature · 19th Century · Literary Classic · Symbolic Imagery · Isolation