Release date is 1996-07-01

Mademoiselle Fifi -- An affair of state -- The artist -- The horla -- Miss Harriet -- The hole -- Love -- The inn -- A family -- Bellflower -- Who knows? -- The devil -- Epiphany -- Simon's papa -- Waiter, a "bock" -- The sequel to a divorce -- The mad woman -- In various roles -- The false gems -- Countess Satan -- The colonel's ideas -- Two little soldiers -- Ghosts -- Was it a dream? -- The diary of a madman -- An unfortunate likeness -- A country excursion.

Produced by Charles Keller. HTML version by Al Haines.

"A Selection from the Writings of Guy De Maupassant, Vol. I" by Guy de Maupassant is a collection of short stories reflecting the tragic and comedic aspects of life, published during the late 19th century. This volume includes pieces that explore the complexity of human emotions, interpersonal relationships, and societal issues through richly drawn characters and vivid narratives, set against the backdrop of French life during that era. The beginning of this collection introduces readers to 'Mademoiselle Fifi', a story highlighting the experiences of Prussian soldiers in France during the Franco-Prussian War. It opens in the dilapidated chateau where the officers reside, showcasing their boredom and subsequent plan to entertain themselves by bringing in local women. As the evening progresses, the atmosphere shifts from comedic to tragic when an altercation between one of the soldiers and a young woman leads to violence, culminating in the soldier's death and the woman's escape. This narrative sets the tone for the collection’s exploration of darker themes beneath the seemingly mundane or humorous exterior of everyday life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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