Timbuktu by Guy De Maupassant (1861)
The story revolves around a young man who travels to Timbuktu and becomes infatuated with the city's exotic culture. He marries a local woman and settles into a life of luxury, but his obsession with the city eventually leads him to abandon his wife and return to Europe alone.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1861 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Satire, Historical Fiction · 3,090 words
First lines
The boulevard, that river of life, swarmed with people in the golden dust of the setting sun. The whole sky was a blinding red; and, behind the Madeleine, an immense blazing cloud flung along the great avenue an oblique shower of fire, quivering like the vapour above a brazier.
The gay, throbbing crowd went by under this flaming mist, and seemed transfigured. Faces were gilded, black hats and clothes took on purple gleams; the varnish on their shoes darted flames across the asphalt pavement.
What this Textopian page supports
Timbuktu is listed on Textopian as a novel by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1861 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: 1861 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Satire, Historical Fiction, Comedy, Adventure
- Length: 3,090 words
- Structure: 1 section, 77 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Timbuktu 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 Timbuktu?
- 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?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of identity, culture, and the human condition through rich character development and nuanced narrative.
- Satire — The story employs humor and irony to critique societal norms and the absurdities of war, particularly through the character of Timbuktu.
- Historical Fiction — Set against the backdrop of the Franco-Prussian War, the narrative incorporates historical events and figures, blending fact with fiction.
- Comedy — The interactions and situations involving Timbuktu provide comedic relief, highlighting the absurdity of the circumstances.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Adventure · Travelogue · French Literature · 19th Century · Colonialism · Imperialism · Africa · Desert · Exploration · Cultural Clash · Exoticism