《兩兄弟》寫的是一筆遺産的贈與給一個平靜家庭帶來的風波。它在心理分析的真實和深刻方面堪稱一絶。
《如死一般強》的主人公貝爾丹是個富有的名畫傢，五十來歲，十幾年來愛着被丈夫冷落的漂亮女人吉羅瓦伯爵夫人，伯爵夫人也很看得自己與畫傢的情人關係。莫泊桑在書中探索的是中老年人並未失去戀愛的動力，在特殊的情景下爆發出的愛情力量不亞於死神的力量。
《我們的心》以法國上流社會的沙竜為描繪背景，反映了男主人公馬裏奧爾和女主人公比爾內等上流社會男男女女的感情生活，堪稱愛情心理小說的傑作。
《我們的心》以法國上流社會的沙竜為描繪背景，反映了男主人公馬裏奧爾和女主人公比爾內等上流社會男男女女的感情生活，堪稱愛情心理小說的傑作。
情人之間的愛情真的可以永遠不變嗎？這也許是一個永遠沒有答案的問題...
感情這東西，又有誰能控製？誰又能說得清楚？
十二年的愛情，曾經的癡纏.牽挂.愛戀.那樣的真真切切，那樣美，那樣幸福...走到後來，他，卻還是敵不過瞬間闖入的---青春的誘惑. 火焰，跳動着，吞噬着那些記錄愛語點滴的信......一同化作灰燼的還有安妮的心.
在他生命的盡頭，伴在床前的這個女人，曾經是他最摯愛的情人.她那曾經年輕的生命，帶給過他無限的溫暖，愛情，欣喜，牽挂，惆悵...
那一份真摯的感情，同樣也是她的全心付出，她將心底最柔軟的地方都裝滿了他.....而今，青春不在的她，已不再是，他心裏的唯一.....
這樣一份經過歲月沉澱的情，原來，也會隨着她的美貌消逝而消亡！
輕嘆，男人的心啊！
窗外，幾許細雨敲窗......
聽見了心碎..心碎..的聲音，是安妮？還是自己？
感情這東西，又有誰能控製？誰又能說得清楚？
十二年的愛情，曾經的癡纏.牽挂.愛戀.那樣的真真切切，那樣美，那樣幸福...走到後來，他，卻還是敵不過瞬間闖入的---青春的誘惑. 火焰，跳動着，吞噬着那些記錄愛語點滴的信......一同化作灰燼的還有安妮的心.
在他生命的盡頭，伴在床前的這個女人，曾經是他最摯愛的情人.她那曾經年輕的生命，帶給過他無限的溫暖，愛情，欣喜，牽挂，惆悵...
那一份真摯的感情，同樣也是她的全心付出，她將心底最柔軟的地方都裝滿了他.....而今，青春不在的她，已不再是，他心裏的唯一.....
這樣一份經過歲月沉澱的情，原來，也會隨着她的美貌消逝而消亡！
輕嘆，男人的心啊！
窗外，幾許細雨敲窗......
聽見了心碎..心碎..的聲音，是安妮？還是自己？
小說以女主人公剋莉絲蒂娜的愛情遭遇為主綫，忠實生動地敘述了封建貴族階級沒落、資産階級興起的新舊交替過程。作者運用輕快靈活的筆法，塑造了貴族階級、資産階級、法國外省富裕農民及醫生等鮮明的人物形象，對人物的內心活動進行細緻入微的描述，並結合人物的心理變化來寫景抒情，從而使這些人物，即使是次要人物，也個個活靈活現，神形兼備。
《漂亮朋友》是莫泊桑最重要和最成功的小說。一是它揭露了法國新聞界操縱法國金融事業、製造輿論、實現倒閣陰謀的黑幕。報紙這種幹預政治和經濟生活的現象，在當時的歐洲具有普遍性，可是在文學中卻從來沒有作傢描寫過，可見莫泊桑的膽識，因此他遭到了強烈的攻訐。二是小說的矛頭指嚮了八十年代初法國的殖民地政策，尤其針對法國對突尼斯的政治、軍事和經濟的控製。當時，法國的一些政界人物從突尼斯政局的變幻引起的交易所行情的波動中大發橫財。這一內容在法國乃至歐洲十九世紀的小說中幾乎是絶無僅有的。三是小說塑造了一個現代冒險傢的典型——杜洛瓦。這種人物與十九世紀前期的野心傢典型既有相同之處，也有所不同。相同的是他們都要往上爬。不同的是，杜洛瓦利用女人作為往上爬的階梯，最終成為財閥。成功的現代冒險傢是以經濟寡頭的面目為其特徵的，杜洛瓦就是他們的代表。從上述三個方面來看，莫泊桑對政治問題的敏感、對經濟生活的洞察之深、對新出現的人物類型的把握都顯示了不同凡響的才能。《漂亮朋友》不愧為一部優秀的現實主義小說，即使從世界文學史來看，也算得上一部傑作。
Synopsis
The story chronicles Georges Duroy's corrupt rise to power from a poor ex-NCO to one of the most successful men in Paris, most of which he achieves by manipulating a series of powerful, intelligent, and wealthy mistresses.
The novel is set in Paris in the upper-middle class environment of the leading journalists of the newspaper La Vie Française and their friends. It tells the story of Georges Duroy, who has spent three years of military service in Algeria. After six months working as clerk in Paris, an encounter with his former comrade, Forestier, enables him to start a career as a journalist. From a reporter of minor events and soft news, he gradually climbs his way up to chief editor. Duroy initially owes his success to Forestier’s wife who helps him write his first articles and, when he later starts writing lead articles, she adds an edge and poignancy to them. At the same time, she uses her connections among leading politicians to provide him with behind the scenes information which allows him to become actively involved in politics. Duroy is also introduced to many politicians in Mme Forestier’s drawing-room. Duroy becomes the lover of Forestiers' friend Mme de Marelle, another influential woman. Duroy later tries to seduce Madeleine Forestier to get even with her husband, but she repulses Duroy’s sexual advances and offers that they become true friends without ulterior motives instead.
In a few months, Charles Forestier’s health deteriorates and he travels to the south of France to regain his health. Soon afterwards, Duroy receives a letter from Madeleine imploring him to come to join her and help her bear the last moments of her husband’s life. As Forestier dies, Duroy asks Madeleine to marry him. After a few weeks to consider, she agrees. Georges now signs his articles Du Roy in order to add prestige to his name. The married couple travel to Normandy, the region of Georges’s childhood, and meet his peasant parents. Finding the reality different than her romantic expectations, Madeleine feels very uncomfortable with his parents and so their stay with them is short. In the newspaper office, Duroy is ridiculed for having his articles written by his wife, just as the late Forestier had his articles written by her. His newspaper colleagues call him ‘Forestier’, which drives Georges mad and he suddenly becomes heavily jealous of Madeleine, insisting that she admit having been unfaithful to Forestier. However, she never admits that.
In order to suppress the stings of jealousy, Duroy starts an affair with Mme Walter, the wife of the owner of the newspaper. He especially enjoys the conquest as he is her first extramarital lover. Later on, he regrets the decision however, for he cannot get rid of her when he does not want her. Du Roy’s relations with his wife gets chillier and chillier and in Chapter Eight of Part Two he takes a police superintendent to come with him to a flat in which his wife is meeting a minister. They catch the two in the act of adultery, which was then a crime punishable by law.
In the last two chapters Du Roy’s ascent to power is further continued. Du Roy, now a single man, makes use of Susanne Walter's, his chief’s daughter’s, infatuation with him, and arranges an elopement with her. The parents then have no other choice but to grant their assent to the marriage. The last chapter shows Du Roy savouring his success at the wedding ceremony at which 'all those who figured prominently in society' were present. His thoughts, however, chiefly belong to Mme de Marelle who, when wishing him all the best, indicates that she has forgiven him for his new marriage and that their intimate meetings can be taken up again.
Symbols
There are a few symbols in the novel. The chief character’s name and nicknames are among them. The daughter of Mme. Marelle first calls him "Bel Ami" which continues to be the nickname used by the women he uses. Duroy starts to sign his articles Du Roy when he is about to marry Madeleine Forestier, ‘roi’ (the same pronunciation) meaning a king. Duroy thus supplants his former friend, the one who enabled his career in journalism in the first place. The articles he then writes with his wife’s help are considered as good as those produced (officially) by Charles Forestier but ‘more factual, more vigorous, more virile’. Seeing that Madeleine was the one who has cowritten the articles of both Charles and Georges, the latter is spitefully addressed ‘Forestier’ by his colleagues; however, fortunately for him, his affairs remain always hidden. Duroy’s moustache is another symbol of his sexual prowess: it is this that women are said to find impossible to resist about him. The painting Monsieur Louis Pascal by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is said to depict the character Duroy in Bel Ami.
Duroy's room at the beginning of the novel overlooks a train tunnel, and he watches the trains going in and out of the tunnel - little wonder he's always thinking about sex.
Form of the novel and comparison with Nana
The novel is composed of episodic chapters which frequently represent individual rungs of the social ladder that Duroy climbs. Thus one chapter is focused on a duel he has to undergo in order to defend the good name of Vie Francaise; another on the witnessing the death of a colleague of his (Forestier) which clears the way for his ascent within the newspaper; yet another tells of the preparation and realization of the discovery of Madeleine’s adultery which enables Duroy to make a more satisfying match with his chief’s daughter. There is no one to match Duroy’s appeal to women – just as there is no one in Nana to compete with the chief character’s mastery over the other sex. Analogously, no single character is immune to the sexual attraction that Duroy in Bel Ami and Nana in Nana inspire in the members of the opposite sex. What further connects these two chief characters of two realistic novels is that their origins are humble: Nana is born in a working-class family on the outskirts of Paris while Georges Duroy comes from a poor peasant family in Normandy. Considering the character's background and the quality of education that he received, the talents that he is endowed with which, together with the favours of women, enable his social rise are then all the more astonishing and difficult to believe.
List of characters
* Georges Duroy (Du Roy), an ex-soldier, journalist and a social climber
* Charles Forestier, Duroy's former friend in the army, a journalist
* Madeleine Forestier (Du Roy), Charles's and later Georges's wife who helps her husbands write their articles and has lots of connections among the powerful
* Monsieur Laroche-Mathieu, a friend of Madeleine Forestier, a deputy, later a minister who owes his position and sudden wealth to Vie Francaise, Madeleine Forestier's lover
* Comte de Vaudrec, an old longtime friend and protector and probably also lover of Madeleine Forestier (Du Roy)
* Clotilde de Marelle, the Forestiers' friend whose husband, a railway inspector, is away for long periods of time frequently
* Laurine de Marelle, their young daughter, who comes up with the nickname Bel Ami.
* Jacques Rival, a journalist
* Norbert de Varenne, an old single bitter life-tired poet who is among the Vie Francaise staff
* Monsieur Walter, the owner and chief editor of the Vie Francaise
* Virginie Walter, his wife, later Duroy's lover
* Suzanne Walter, their marriageable daughter, later Madame Du Roy
* Rachel, a prostitute to whom Georges turns in times of financial crisis
Synopsis
The story chronicles Georges Duroy's corrupt rise to power from a poor ex-NCO to one of the most successful men in Paris, most of which he achieves by manipulating a series of powerful, intelligent, and wealthy mistresses.
The novel is set in Paris in the upper-middle class environment of the leading journalists of the newspaper La Vie Française and their friends. It tells the story of Georges Duroy, who has spent three years of military service in Algeria. After six months working as clerk in Paris, an encounter with his former comrade, Forestier, enables him to start a career as a journalist. From a reporter of minor events and soft news, he gradually climbs his way up to chief editor. Duroy initially owes his success to Forestier’s wife who helps him write his first articles and, when he later starts writing lead articles, she adds an edge and poignancy to them. At the same time, she uses her connections among leading politicians to provide him with behind the scenes information which allows him to become actively involved in politics. Duroy is also introduced to many politicians in Mme Forestier’s drawing-room. Duroy becomes the lover of Forestiers' friend Mme de Marelle, another influential woman. Duroy later tries to seduce Madeleine Forestier to get even with her husband, but she repulses Duroy’s sexual advances and offers that they become true friends without ulterior motives instead.
In a few months, Charles Forestier’s health deteriorates and he travels to the south of France to regain his health. Soon afterwards, Duroy receives a letter from Madeleine imploring him to come to join her and help her bear the last moments of her husband’s life. As Forestier dies, Duroy asks Madeleine to marry him. After a few weeks to consider, she agrees. Georges now signs his articles Du Roy in order to add prestige to his name. The married couple travel to Normandy, the region of Georges’s childhood, and meet his peasant parents. Finding the reality different than her romantic expectations, Madeleine feels very uncomfortable with his parents and so their stay with them is short. In the newspaper office, Duroy is ridiculed for having his articles written by his wife, just as the late Forestier had his articles written by her. His newspaper colleagues call him ‘Forestier’, which drives Georges mad and he suddenly becomes heavily jealous of Madeleine, insisting that she admit having been unfaithful to Forestier. However, she never admits that.
In order to suppress the stings of jealousy, Duroy starts an affair with Mme Walter, the wife of the owner of the newspaper. He especially enjoys the conquest as he is her first extramarital lover. Later on, he regrets the decision however, for he cannot get rid of her when he does not want her. Du Roy’s relations with his wife gets chillier and chillier and in Chapter Eight of Part Two he takes a police superintendent to come with him to a flat in which his wife is meeting a minister. They catch the two in the act of adultery, which was then a crime punishable by law.
In the last two chapters Du Roy’s ascent to power is further continued. Du Roy, now a single man, makes use of Susanne Walter's, his chief’s daughter’s, infatuation with him, and arranges an elopement with her. The parents then have no other choice but to grant their assent to the marriage. The last chapter shows Du Roy savouring his success at the wedding ceremony at which 'all those who figured prominently in society' were present. His thoughts, however, chiefly belong to Mme de Marelle who, when wishing him all the best, indicates that she has forgiven him for his new marriage and that their intimate meetings can be taken up again.
Symbols
There are a few symbols in the novel. The chief character’s name and nicknames are among them. The daughter of Mme. Marelle first calls him "Bel Ami" which continues to be the nickname used by the women he uses. Duroy starts to sign his articles Du Roy when he is about to marry Madeleine Forestier, ‘roi’ (the same pronunciation) meaning a king. Duroy thus supplants his former friend, the one who enabled his career in journalism in the first place. The articles he then writes with his wife’s help are considered as good as those produced (officially) by Charles Forestier but ‘more factual, more vigorous, more virile’. Seeing that Madeleine was the one who has cowritten the articles of both Charles and Georges, the latter is spitefully addressed ‘Forestier’ by his colleagues; however, fortunately for him, his affairs remain always hidden. Duroy’s moustache is another symbol of his sexual prowess: it is this that women are said to find impossible to resist about him. The painting Monsieur Louis Pascal by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is said to depict the character Duroy in Bel Ami.
Duroy's room at the beginning of the novel overlooks a train tunnel, and he watches the trains going in and out of the tunnel - little wonder he's always thinking about sex.
Form of the novel and comparison with Nana
The novel is composed of episodic chapters which frequently represent individual rungs of the social ladder that Duroy climbs. Thus one chapter is focused on a duel he has to undergo in order to defend the good name of Vie Francaise; another on the witnessing the death of a colleague of his (Forestier) which clears the way for his ascent within the newspaper; yet another tells of the preparation and realization of the discovery of Madeleine’s adultery which enables Duroy to make a more satisfying match with his chief’s daughter. There is no one to match Duroy’s appeal to women – just as there is no one in Nana to compete with the chief character’s mastery over the other sex. Analogously, no single character is immune to the sexual attraction that Duroy in Bel Ami and Nana in Nana inspire in the members of the opposite sex. What further connects these two chief characters of two realistic novels is that their origins are humble: Nana is born in a working-class family on the outskirts of Paris while Georges Duroy comes from a poor peasant family in Normandy. Considering the character's background and the quality of education that he received, the talents that he is endowed with which, together with the favours of women, enable his social rise are then all the more astonishing and difficult to believe.
List of characters
* Georges Duroy (Du Roy), an ex-soldier, journalist and a social climber
* Charles Forestier, Duroy's former friend in the army, a journalist
* Madeleine Forestier (Du Roy), Charles's and later Georges's wife who helps her husbands write their articles and has lots of connections among the powerful
* Monsieur Laroche-Mathieu, a friend of Madeleine Forestier, a deputy, later a minister who owes his position and sudden wealth to Vie Francaise, Madeleine Forestier's lover
* Comte de Vaudrec, an old longtime friend and protector and probably also lover of Madeleine Forestier (Du Roy)
* Clotilde de Marelle, the Forestiers' friend whose husband, a railway inspector, is away for long periods of time frequently
* Laurine de Marelle, their young daughter, who comes up with the nickname Bel Ami.
* Jacques Rival, a journalist
* Norbert de Varenne, an old single bitter life-tired poet who is among the Vie Francaise staff
* Monsieur Walter, the owner and chief editor of the Vie Francaise
* Virginie Walter, his wife, later Duroy's lover
* Suzanne Walter, their marriageable daughter, later Madame Du Roy
* Rachel, a prostitute to whom Georges turns in times of financial crisis
莫泊桑被譽為“短篇小說之王”，在文學史上與契訶夫齊名。對於中國的小讀者而言，莫泊桑的小說是他們瞭解法國歷史和社會的窗口。本書選註了莫泊桑的幾十篇短篇小說。所選篇目是作傢不同時期、不同題材的作品，具有代表性，以便讀者瞭解莫泊桑創作的人物長廊中不同的文學形象。
導語：莫泊桑的小說，多是批判現實主義的作品，充滿了諷刺和悲觀的色調。它們之所以受到廣泛的喜愛和贊賞，在於各個形象的真實性和作傢描寫手法的精妙。莫泊桑始終堅持取材於平凡而真實的生活，對細節描寫執著而傳神，使讀者感同身受。在寫作技巧方面也以精確為準則。他的作品重視結構的佈局，行文波瀾起伏，引人入勝，故事情節巧妙真實，結局出人意料，而又在情理之中。此外，莫泊桑尤其擅於用洗練的筆墨揭示人物內心世界。他所塑造的藝術形象，無論是貴族、神父、軍官、還是妓女、漁民、流浪漢，都鮮明生動，栩栩如生，在文學史上閃爍着動人的光輝。
莫泊桑衹活了四十三歲。在他短暫的寫作生涯中，他創作了大量精彩的短篇小說。本書從中精選了適合中小學生閱讀的代表作，在忠實於原著的基礎上進行了適度的改寫。為了幫助大傢更好地瞭解莫泊桑和他的創作，本書收錄了莫泊桑去世後左拉在他的葬禮上所致的悼詞，列於書尾。
導語：莫泊桑的小說，多是批判現實主義的作品，充滿了諷刺和悲觀的色調。它們之所以受到廣泛的喜愛和贊賞，在於各個形象的真實性和作傢描寫手法的精妙。莫泊桑始終堅持取材於平凡而真實的生活，對細節描寫執著而傳神，使讀者感同身受。在寫作技巧方面也以精確為準則。他的作品重視結構的佈局，行文波瀾起伏，引人入勝，故事情節巧妙真實，結局出人意料，而又在情理之中。此外，莫泊桑尤其擅於用洗練的筆墨揭示人物內心世界。他所塑造的藝術形象，無論是貴族、神父、軍官、還是妓女、漁民、流浪漢，都鮮明生動，栩栩如生，在文學史上閃爍着動人的光輝。
莫泊桑衹活了四十三歲。在他短暫的寫作生涯中，他創作了大量精彩的短篇小說。本書從中精選了適合中小學生閱讀的代表作，在忠實於原著的基礎上進行了適度的改寫。為了幫助大傢更好地瞭解莫泊桑和他的創作，本書收錄了莫泊桑去世後左拉在他的葬禮上所致的悼詞，列於書尾。