The Horla by Guy de Maupassant
A young man returns to his rural home after a long absence and begins to experience strange occurrences that suggest the presence of an unseen entity, known as The Horla. As the events escalate, the protagonist's perception of reality becomes increasingly distorted, leading him to question his own sanity.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1887 · Genre: Horror, Psychological Fiction, Supernatural · 11,688 words
Editions
First lines
MAY 8. What a lovely day! I have spent all the morning lying on the grass in front of my house, under the enormous plantain tree which covers and shades and shelters the whole of it. I like this part of the country; I am fond of living here because I am attached to it by deep roots, the profound and delicate roots which attach a man to the soil on which his ancestors were born and died, to their traditions, their usages, their food, the local expressions, the peculiar language of the peasants, the smell of the soil, the hamlets, and to the atmosphere itself.
What this Textopian page supports
The Horla is listed on Textopian as a novel by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Psychological Fiction, Supernatural, Science Fiction, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 11,688 words
- Structure: 1 section, 193 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Horla by Guy de Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- The Horla Or Modern Ghosts by Guy De Maupassant
- The Other Lodgers by Ambrose Bierce
- The Ways Of Ghosts by Ambrose Bierce
- The Thing In The Hall by E. F. Benson
- A Creature Of Habit by Ambrose Bierce
- In A Glass Darkly by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Genres
- Horror — The narrative centers on the protagonist's growing fear and paranoia about an invisible entity, creating a sense of dread and terror.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves deeply into the protagonist's mental state, exploring themes of madness, obsession, and the reliability of perception.
- Supernatural — The presence of an unseen, possibly otherworldly being that influences the protagonist's life adds a supernatural element to the story.
- Science Fiction — The narrative speculates on the existence of invisible beings and their potential impact on humanity, touching on themes of evolution and the unknown.
Tags
Psychological Horror · Supernatural Fiction · Short Story Collection · French Literature · 19th Century Literature · Gothic Fiction · Existentialism · Philosophical Themes · Mystery and Suspense · Paranoid Narratives · Unreliable Narrators · Mind Games