Who is bel ami

Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant. Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant ,. Guy de Maupassant's scandalous tale of an opportunistic young man corrupted by the allure of power, "Bel-Ami" is translated with an introduction by Douglas Parmee in "Penguin Classics". Young, attractive and very ambitious, George Duroy, known to his admirers as Bel-Ami, is offered a job as a journalist on La Vie francaise and soon makes a great success of his new career.

But he also comes face to face with the realities of the corrupt society in which he lives - the sleazy colleagues, the manipulative mistresses, and wily financiers - and swiftly learns to become an arch-seducer, blackmailer and social climber in a world where love is only a means to an end.

Written when Maupassant was at the height of his powers, "Bel-Ami" is a novel of great frankness and cynicism, but it is also infused with the sheer joy of life - depicting the scenes and characters of Paris in the belle epoque with wit, sensitivity, and humanity.

Douglas Parmee's translation captures all the vigour and vitality of Maupassant's novel. His introduction explores the similarities between Bel-Ami and Maupassant himself and demonstrates the skill with which the author depicts his large cast of characters and the French society of the Third Republic.

Get A Copy. Paperback , pages. Published August 28th by Penguin Classics first published More Details Original Title. Paris France. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Bel-Ami , please sign up. Has anyone read the Necklace by Guy de Mauspassant? I like his writing just was not thrilled with Bel-Ami. I also heard that his short stories were very good.

Constance The Necklace is an all-time great. If you can read it in French, it's even better. A splendid story of pride going before temptation, a haughty spirit …more The Necklace is an all-time great. A splendid story of pride going before temptation, a haughty spirit before a fall Don't miss it! And although Bel-Ami is less often read, it's a compelling portrait of a charming, sexy, amoral, greedy man. It strikes me he probably commits all of the 7 so-called deadly sins at one point or another What a guy!

See 2 questions about Bel-Ami…. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of Bel-Ami. Oct 08, Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it Shelves: books , classics , fiction , literature , 19th-century , french , pdfs. The story chronicles journalist 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 women.

It tells the story of Georges Duroy, who has spent three years in military service in Algeria. After working for six months as a 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. 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 becomes the lover of Forestiers' friend Mme de Marelle, another influential woman. View all 6 comments. Aug 18, Jeffrey Keeten rated it it was amazing Shelves: unnatural-appetites , the-french , greed. He finds a job making a pittance, but fortunately he runs into an old friend from the army named Charles Forestier. Even though Duroy has no real writing experience, Forestier decides to get him hired on at La Vie Francaise as a journalist.

He wants Duroy to write about some of his experiences in the army, but the cursed white page that plagues even the most experienced writers is consuming his words before he can even dip his pen to paper. Forestier sends Duroy to his wife Madeleine. She will get him sorted. He is a handsome rake. Crisp and curly, it curved charmingly over his lip, fair with auburn tints, slightly paler where it bristled at the ends.

As he gains confidence, he also becomes bolder. His first conquest is Madame Clotilde de Marelle. By showing an interest in her earrings, he unknowingly hits upon something of which she is proud, her creativity. As you will see when you read this novel, Duroy frequently gets luckier than he deserves.

Forestier is very sick with tuberculosis. The disease is wasting him away. A young man, only in his late twenties, he will not only leave a higher position open at the newspaper, but he will also leave a young, beautiful, ambitious woman a widow. Both the job and the widow are of interest to Duroy.

To him, she represents the pinnacle of success, but she will only prove to be a stepping stone for a man as ambitious as he is. The Forestier death scene is particularly poignant because of his deathbed terror of the unknown, which even envelopes Madeleine and Duroy, who are devotedly attending his last moments, despite already scheming about a life after Forestier.

When Guy De Maupassant was writing this novel in the s, he already knew he was living under a death sentence. Syphilis was eroding his health at an alarming rate. First things first, Madeleine changes his name. He is now Duroy de Cantel or D. There are reasons why actors and actresses change their names, not only to be someone else, someone larger in even their own minds when they are acting, but to also have a memorable name that will easily trip off the tongue of those who hear it.

Duroy is becoming an accomplished actor in the drama of his own life. He has come a long way from the first squalid rooms he used in Paris. It all reeked of poverty and degradation, the poverty of Parisian furnished lodgings. Though being successful takes on different meanings for different people, my vision of what a successful life is has certainly changed in the last few years.

Achieved may be too strong a word. He does still recognize who he is. Duroy stopped and felt like waving and applauding this woman whose success had been won on her back and who was boldly flaunting her luxury by taking her drive at the same time as these aristocratic hypocrites. The women are so well drawn in this book.

I find myself admiring them more than the men. They are competent, intelligent, and in many cases, use Duroy as much as he uses them. I especially admire Madeleine Forestier, who, through her subtle astute suggestions, guides Duroy to better opportunities, and even suggests women he should strategically get to know better.

She has no illusions about how either one of them are ever going to rise to a place of comfort. The spectre of death, the dissatisfaction with success, the unseemliness of unquenchable ambition, and the hypocrisy of the aristocracy all make for a scathing, enjoyable romp through the dark alcoves, the boudoirs, and the secluded settees of Paris, as seeking fingers grope for the flesh beneath the silk.

View all 21 comments. Guy de Maupassant was responsible for a couple of items named Bel-Ami. One was his very successful novel and the other was his small sailing yacht.

Here is what the latter looked like, from a Sale advertisement. I also see a link in the great deal of ple Guy de Maupassant was responsible for a couple of items named Bel-Ami. I also see a link in the great deal of pleasure that Maupassant must have had sailing in his boat and in my enjoyment when flowing through his textual Bel-Ami.

The story in this book is after all one of a voyage of transformation. It traces the adventures of the scoundrel Georges Duroy as he surfs the seas of Parisian society. And here is the royal Bribon. Georges Duroy is a lucky man. To begin with, he is beautiful, charming, engaging and.. When he also polishes his gear he reaches such a point of elegance that he does not recognize himself when he sees his reflection in the mirror. The novel is the account of how, as if he were a boat , he transforms himself from a provincial raft into a seductive canoe and eventually into a magnificent yacht.

His elegant gliding is possible thanks to his ability to detect from where the wind blows and let himself be carried by that impulse. So, even if he starts out of a standing of poverty and misery, he recognizes the buoy that is his friend, M. Forestier, and succeeds in keeping afloat. And from this timely impulse from the friend Duroy advances and steers on towards success, thanks to his wafting allure. A great part of his journey is accompanied by the crew of women in his life as they lay out the course for him.

For not all women play the same role. One offers a harbour of love. Another provides a piquant tour along the reservoir of the Folies Bergere. And a very secure anchor is provided by a third, who appropriately lives in Rue Fontaine , until it is time for him to unmoor and head out for a richer heiress and final landing pier. But not all the crossing is made thanks to the dames.

Journalism also offers rich waters for further discoveries and, as he embarks in this new career, we follow him to its zenith. For during the Third Republic newspapers acquired a new power and depth in which there was a lot to fish. Duroy recognized this clearly. As hidden finance deals blended with journalism into dense and murky seas , he succeeds in breaking the waves and casting his net in these new profundities and pull out fantastic treasures.

As he also learns how to cruise through the currents of public opinion, he begins to scan the coasts of Northwestern Africa, following the wake that the political and economic interests of French Foreign Policy were leaving behind. Duroy proved always ready to catch major opportunities in these colonial maneuverings when France interfered with the interests of Morocco, Algiers and Tunisia.

But for the entirety of this voyage, capital is needed if one is not to drift into dangerous currents. And as he has set his sails his itinerary eventually takes him out into the open ocean of high politics. By then Duroy has earned all his stripes and elevated his name to that of Baron du Roy de Cantel.

He is then more than ready to make direct headway towards the not too distant coast of the French Parliament, which standing as a beacon in the horizon , is where he plans to cast anchor , finally.

View all 49 comments. Guy de Maupassant's portrayal of a scoundrel of the highest order, is set in Paris and was written with great style and not a little humour. It really brings this period to life, and though this isn't edge of the seat stuff, the pages turn just as quickly following the exploits of George Duroy - journalist reputedly serial adulterer certainly and general rake, who'll stop at nothing to attain wealth, power, and recognition.

Even though this was written in , it seems that nothing Guy de Maupassant's portrayal of a scoundrel of the highest order, is set in Paris and was written with great style and not a little humour.

Even though this was written in , it seems that nothing much changes, and characters like George's are still alive and kicking! View all 47 comments. Jul 26, Kim rated it really liked it Shelves: audiobook , french-language. For a novel published in and set in the Paris of that period, this novel has a remarkably modern feel.

It's about sleazy journalism, corrupt politicians, sex, money and power. Bel-Ami is the nickname given to him by the daughter of a mistress. It means "handsome or beautiful friend", but the nickname, like almost every For a novel published in and set in the Paris of that period, this novel has a remarkably modern feel.

It means "handsome or beautiful friend", but the nickname, like almost everything else about Georges, is deceptive. As handsome as he is, there's nothing in the least bit friendly about Georges.

I love so much about this book. I love the straightforward, accessible language, the believable dialogue and the descriptions of Paris life in I love the use of humour, such as in the duelling scene. I love the poignancy of some of the scenes: for example view spoiler [the death of a secondary character, Forrestier, which is masterfully written hide spoiler ].

However, the character of Georges Duroy is the novel's greatest achievement. He is the centre around whom everyting turns and he is a fascinating creation. De Maupassant initially evokes sympathy for Georges.

He is poor, and while ambitious, he suffers humiliation because of his poverty. But any sympathy is stripped away as the narrative progresses. Georges is a person who can never be content with what he has.

Each gain, each achievement only leads to more envy and increased greed. But not here. George goes from success to success, taking every opportunity presented to him with cynical disregard for anyone other than himself. This novel is a wonderful illustration of how a total lack of virtue can bring great rewards. There is no doubt that this remains as true today as it was in Paris in View all 15 comments.

Mar 10, Steven Godin rated it liked it Shelves: classic-fiction , paris , france. A while back, I happened to read some of De Maupassant's darkly humorous short stories from the 'Parisian affair' collection and found them a pure delight. He no doubt had a talent of capturing the bourgeousie society and predominantly focusing on relationships between men and women, exploring the nature of the human character, thumbs up here.

Zola, Balzac and Flaubert I find far more engaging A while back, I happened to read some of De Maupassant's darkly humorous short stories from the 'Parisian affair' collection and found them a pure delight. Zola, Balzac and Flaubert I find far more engaging when it comes to expansive novels, and even though this is far from being a huge novel it lacked something to keep me fully absorbed, it didn't help that right from the off I pretty much knew Georges Duroy Bel-Ami was a character that was not going to win me over, as it seems he was following a sinful path that had only one destination.

The story itself is a basic one The power to succeed in journalism regardless of who gets hurt along the way with the focus more on how certain characters react to certain situations, De Maupassant does have a strength for writing of the bond between people and does that well here, but nothing close to as good as in 'A Parisian Affair'.

Nothing is ever enough for Duroy, the son of peasant tavern owners in Normandy all too quickly forgets his past. His lucky break is also quickly forgotten and a growing sense of deserving money and influence starts to grow in his corrupted heart. Duroy appears completely oblivious to the pain caused to others, with both wife and mistress coming off second best to his logic. And the more he climbs social ladders the less of a good-natured person he becomes, and does not see love in anyway shape or form.

It starts slowly as Duroy takes his first tentative steps into society, but by the end as the issues become more complex the reader is still able to navigate around the world of newspaper, foreign ministers and sexual escapades, to come to the same conclusions as before. That Duroy is dangerous and unlikeable. The cutthroat world of journalism has changed a hell of a lot since this publication, but human behaviour has not, which will see Bel-Ami continue to be classed as a timeless piece of writing.

But he is just short of being in the same league as Zola or Balzac. View all 12 comments. Aug 03, Adam Dalva rated it it was amazing. A meaty, exciting, insightful novel. Maupassant is so skilled with structure and is clearly champing at the bit to depict the ins and outs of 's Parisian culture the extremely spoilery introduction is worth reading after you read the book to learn about the narrative parallels between Bel-Ami and the author.

Bel-Ami's a great character - he's sort of totally loathsome and not particularly brilliant, and yet you can't help but thrill at his talent for manipulation and constant drive.

It's a A meaty, exciting, insightful novel. It's also fun, oddly enough, to read a book about a genuinely handsome, alluring man. The women in the novel don't fall short either - each of the three leads has her moment to shine and Madame Forestier, in particular, is as skillful and likable and MODERN a female character that I can remember from this period in writing.

But my favorite scene of all is a party toward the end of the book, when all the characters share the stage for the first time as they whirl around each other at the height of the society.

She is a honey-lipped charmer who prefers to write in a scoop-necked negligee while sprawled on her bed. Georges sells the article which Forestier surely knows his wife wrote , sees it published and permits himself the first of several self-satisfied smiles. Pattinson, alas, is an actor who hasn't mastered the art of smiling convincingly.

He smiles as if saying "cheese! Imagine Jeremy Irons or Ethan Hawke. The plot essentially involves only Georges' affairs, although lip service is paid to intrigue about whether the French government plans to invade Morocco. Georges has been informed that in Paris, it is not the men who have the power, but their wives, and he sets out to climb the social ladder via their beds.

He so enraptures Clotilde Ricci that she establishes them in a cozy little love nest. His next victim is the distinguished Virginie Scott Thomas , who he has the effrontery to invite to the love nest for some quick rumpy-pumpy, hurrying her away just in the nick of time before Clotilde arrives. The actresses do what they can with this sad sack. The surprise for me is Christina Ricci, who I think of as undernourished and nervous, but who flowers here in warm ripeness.

Her character makes the mistake of actually loving Georges. This involves pure acting skill on her part, since Pattinson gives her so little to work with. It is good to see a poor boy from the provinces make good.

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from until his death in In , he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Rated R for some strong sexuality, nudity and brief language. Storyline Edit. Georges Duroy is a penniless soldier returning from war. He travels to Paris in a search for ways to improve his social and financial status.

He uses his wit and powers of seduction to charm wealthy women. Possessed by love. Consumed by desire. Crime Drama History Romance. Rated R for some strong sexuality, nudity and brief language. Did you know Edit. Trivia Nicole Kidman was offered the role of Virginie Rousset, but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts.

Quotes Charles Forestier : [from trailer] Charles Forestier : So what have you been doing all these years? Connections Featured in Projector: Bel Ami User reviews 73 Review. Top review. A world where a poor, working man can only dream of. A world where the high society has its own rules, where sex is power, where power leads to connections, where connections lead to the top and where the top is dominated by corruption and intrigues. It's the world of Belle Epoque Paris at the end of the 19th century, with its carriages and boudoirs,its beautiful salons and ladies in stunning dresses.

Georges Duroy, a poor, handsome man with no special talents but with the strong ambition to become rich and important, takes the invitation of his wealthy friend and puts his first steps on the social ladder. Uncertain and awkward in the beginning, looking how to behave in this elitist company he learns fast, conquers the hearts of the wives of influential men by sleeping with them to break them shamelessly when a better opportunity shows up.

Bel ami, film adaptation of the famous classic novel by Guy de Maupassant, is an adult tale of the rise of Georges Duroy to the top but also of the dubious and corrupt relationships between politicians and journalists. These themes are still actual and recognizable, which makes the movie very accessible. The film makers did a big effort in creating a wonderful setting as authentic as possible.

Also the costumes are a joy to watch. The performances were very well done IMO. Though Robert Pattinson was only 23 when he took this role he held his own against experienced actresses as Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristin Scott Thomas who brought respectively the intelligent Madeleine, the frivolous Clotilde and the devote Virginie convincingly to life. Because of his strong screen presence and the way he showed Georges' evolution from a beginning casanova to the cad he became, Rob nailed the character and showed that he can have a bright future as an actor.

Bel ami, though it has dark themes, is entertaining and has more than once funny moments apart from several steamy sex scenes.