Madame Husson's May King
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security and social status. She becomes the May Queen at a local festival, but her life is marked by emptiness and desperation. The narrative explores themes of class, morality, and the constraints placed on women in society during that time period.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1869 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Satire, Comedy · 7,339 words
First lines
We had just passed through Gisors, where I had been awakened by hearing the name of the place shouted by the porters, and I was falling off to sleep again, when a frightful jerk threw me on top of the fat lady in the opposite seat.
A wheel had come off the engine, which was lying across the line. The tender and the luggage van, also derailed, lay beside this wreck which panted, shuddered, whistled, snorted and spat like horses that have fallen in the street; their flanks throb, their chests quiver, their nostrils smoke, they shudder through their whole bodies but do not seem able to make the slightest effort to get up and go on again.
What this Textopian page supports
Madame Husson's May King is listed on Textopian as a novel by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1869 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: 1869 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Satire, Comedy, Social Commentary, Tragedy
- Length: 7,339 words
- Structure: 1 section, 195 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Madame Husson's May King 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Madame Husson's May King?
- How does this novel by Guy De Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Deserted Woman by Honore De Balzac
- Mouche by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of virtue, societal expectations, and human folly through character-driven narratives.
- Satire — It critiques social norms and the absurdity of human behavior, particularly regarding morality and reputation.
- Comedy — The narrative employs humor and irony, particularly in the portrayal of the protagonist's transformation and the townspeople's reactions.
- Social Commentary — It reflects on provincial life, social hierarchies, and the nature of virtue in a small community.
Tags
French Literature · Realism · Psychological Fiction · Short Story · Social Commentary · Class Struggle · Marriage · Infidelity · Deception · Moral Decay · Societal Critique · Victorian Era