The Hand by Guy De Maupassant (1881)
A young man's hand is severed while he is working on a ship. He becomes obsessed with reattaching it and returns to the scene of the accident in search of his missing limb.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1881 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Psychological Thriller · 2,716 words
Editions
First lines
A circle had been formed round Monsieur Bermutier, examining magistrate, who was giving his opinion on the mysterious Saint Cloud affair. For the past month all Paris had been wildly excited over this inexplicable crime. No one could make head or tail of it.
Monsieur Bermutier was standing with his back to the fireplace and was talking, threading the evidence together, discussing the various theories, but drawing no conclusions.
What this Textopian page supports
The Hand is listed on Textopian as a novel by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1881 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: 1881 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Gothic Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 2,716 words
- Structure: 1 section, 74 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hand 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
- The Dead Hand by Guy De Maupassant
- The Spook House by Ambrose Bierce
- A Light Sleeper by Ambrose Bierce
- The Death Of Halpin Frayser by Ambrose Bierce
- The White Lady by Guy De Maupassant
- The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James
Genres
- Horror — The story features elements of fear, the supernatural, and a gruesome murder, creating a chilling atmosphere.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around an unexplained crime and the investigation into its circumstances, maintaining suspense throughout.
- Psychological Thriller — The narrative explores the psychological tension and fear experienced by the characters, particularly the magistrate.
- Gothic Fiction — The presence of dark themes, a mysterious setting, and elements of the macabre align with Gothic conventions.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Short Story · French Literature · 19th Century · Gothic Horror · Dark Fantasy · Supernatural Elements · Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Paranormal Activity · Isolated Setting