The Flayed Hand by Guy De Maupassant

Name: The Flayed Hand
Author: Guy De Maupassant

The Flayed Hand is a short story by French author Guy de Maupassant. It tells the story of a young man, Pierre, who is sent to a small village in the French countryside to investigate a mysterious case of a flayed hand. When Pierre arrives in the village, he finds that the locals are terrified of the hand, believing it to be a sign of a curse. He soon discovers that the hand belongs to a local man, who had been killed in a fight with another man. Pierre is determined to find out the truth behind the mysterious hand, and soon discovers that the man had been killed by a group of bandits. The story follows Pierre as he attempts to unravel the mystery of the flayed hand, and in the process, he discovers a dark secret that has been hidden in the village for many years. In the end, Pierre is able to bring justice to the village and the man who was killed. The Flayed Hand is a classic example of Maupassant's writing, and is a great example of a suspenseful and mysterious story. It is a great read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1893 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery · 2,092 words

First lines

One evening about eight months ago I met with some college comrades at the lodgings of our friend Louis R. We drank punch and smoked, talked of literature and art, and made jokes like any other company of young men. Suddenly the door flew open, and one who had been my friend since boyhood burst in like a hurricane.

-"Guess where I come from?" he cried.

What this Textopian page supports

The Flayed Hand is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1893 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: 1893 CE
Language: English
Genres: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy
Length: 2,092 words
Structure: 1 section, 29 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for The Flayed Hand by Guy De Maupassant
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Discussion starters

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How does this short story by Guy De Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Gothic Fiction — The Flayed Hand is a short story by Guy de Maupassant that follows a young man who is haunted by a mysterious hand that appears in his bedroom. This story has all the elements of a classic Gothic fiction tale, including a mysterious and supernatural element, a sense of dread, and a dark atmosphere.
Horror — The Flayed Hand is a horror story that follows a young man who is haunted by a mysterious hand that appears in his bedroom. The story is full of suspense and dread, and the supernatural element adds to the horror of the story.
Mystery — The Flayed Hand is a mystery story that follows a young man who is haunted by a mysterious hand that appears in his bedroom. The story is full of suspense and intrigue as the protagonist attempts to uncover the mystery of the hand and its origins.
Romance — The Flayed Hand is a romantic story that follows a young man who is haunted by a mysterious hand that appears in his bedroom. The story has a romantic element as the protagonist falls in love with a woman who is connected to the mysterious hand.