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/lit/ - Literature

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18732696 No.18732696 [Reply] [Original]

Started reading Pierre et Jean this week on my breaks at work, and although not even a full 4 chapters in I'm enjoying it tremendously. Very comfy read on the surface due to Maupassant's masterful prose, but still with an acute tension and a threat of tragedy looming constantly. Reminds me a lot of Dostoyevsky's style of writing with how much time is spent in Pierre's head as he's walking about town almost always slightly manic, and yeh fuckin top read so far. Anyone else read this and have anything to say? Or about Maupassant's work in general, I've not actually read any of his short stories yet but I know that that's obviously meant to be where his best work is so I'm not too worried about them, but how about his other novels, how to they compare?

>> No.18733190

>>18732696
Maupassant has definitely not masterful prose, but he's a perfectly respectable, talented artist. He is in many ways the Satie of his time for French literature - not particularly influential in the long run, but perfectly captured the essence of his time and had the gift of bringing a sense of peace and pleasure to those who'd come in contact with his work.

>> No.18733781

I've read almost all of his short stories and his first novel. I have something for Maupassant, but I don't think he's a great author. He sort of straddles the line between literary novelist and pulp author, but I'm a sucker for French pessimism so I like his stuff.

>> No.18733883

>>18732696
>Anyone else read this and have anything to say?
It's great. I need to re-read it.

Bel Ami is solid, but it's not inspired in the way Pierre et Jean is.

> Very comfy read on the surface due to Maupassant's masterful prose, but still with an acute tension and a threat of tragedy looming constantly.

The ending is just about perfect.

>> No.18733957

>>18732696
Is that Stalin?

>> No.18734687

Was about to make a thread before noticing this one. What are his best short stories? Which are your personal favorites? Also, is there a really good edition of his stories I should pick up?

>> No.18734708

>>18732696
I've read a few dozen of his short stories. As a whole I'd agree with the other anons that he was no doubt important in his time for helping pioneer the modern short story, but much of his work is too bare and stiff imo. There are a few of his stories that really stick with me though and "Ball of Fat" is probably the best of them all.