Independent | Eco-friendly | Up to 75% off

The Best Short Stories

With a skill for ironic plots, incisive characterization and detailed descriptions Guy de Maupassant became a master of the short story and wrote hundreds in the 1880s. This collections presents 17 examples of his work, including the much-acclaimed ‘Boule de Suif’, ‘Clair de Lune’ and ‘Mademoiselle Pearl’. Slightly off-mint.
Postscript description
Read full publisher description

RRP £4.99

£2.99

✓ In stock

Free UK delivery on orders over £25

Product information:
  • Publisher: Wordsworth
  • Year: 2011
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 224pp
  • Illustrated: No
  • Dimensions: 196x125mm
  • ISBN: 9781853261893
  • Condition: New - Very Good
  • Weight: 0.1kg
Product code:
546276
Product information
Full publisher description
With a new Introduction by Cedric Watts, Research Professor of English, University of Sussex.


Guy de Maupassant was a master of the short story. This collection displays his lively diversity, with tales that vary in theme and tone, ranging from tragedy and satire to comedy and farce. In a lucidly direct style, he provides unflinching realism and sceptical irony. He depicts the deceptions, hypocrisies and vanities at different levels of society. Prostitution is frankly described, while the harshness of war is deftly exposed.


His tales have been televised and have influenced films, operas and rock music. Unillusioned but humane, Maupassant remains our contemporary.
Read full publisher description
Reasons to shop at Postscript

Independent bookseller
Established in 1987, we’ve been sharing reading recommendations for decades.

Books you won’t find elsewhere
Discover new authors among our frequently changing bookshelves, along with almost-forgotten gems and a wealth of unusual titles you won’t find elsewhere.

Eco-friendly packaging
Orders are carefully packed in recyclable cardboard boxes, eco-friendly bubble wrap and solvent-free labels, paper and tape.

Condition and price
All our books are new, unused and unread, and they’re all up to 75% off RRP.

FREE monthly catalogue
Featuring over 400 handpicked titles, our unique catalogue is carefully curated and includes new and unusual titles, special features and exclusive collections.

Email newsletters
Our tailored newsletters are written by our booksellers, and we always highlight the books that we have talked about most in the Postscript office.

Footnotes blog
Some books spark ideas and conversations that our catalogue can’t contain – our Footnotes blog offers a deeper dive into a wealth of topics to inspire further reading.

Aftercare
We are all serious book people and we understand the value of reading. This is why we package our books so carefully and employ a helpful in-house customer services team to promptly resolve any queries you may have.

Delivery information - FREE UK delivery on orders over £25

UK

Free UK standard delivery on all online orders over £25

Flat rate for all standard delivery orders: ‬£3.00 (3-5 working days)

Flat rate for Next Day orders (orders must be placed before 1pm, Monday–Friday): ‬£4.50

Flat rate for all Royal Mail Tracked48 orders: ‬£5.50 (2-4 working days)

Standard delivery‭: ‬3-5‭ ‬working days‭ (‬Highlands and Islands 5-7‭ ‬working days‭)‬

Next day delivery‭: ‬Available all UK excluding Highlands and Islands

Collect your order from a local shop – prices and delivery times as above

Overseas

All orders‭: ‬delivery costs for orders outside the UK are based on country of destination and product weight.

You can view your overseas delivery cost using the Summary section within the Basket‭.‬

For more information on delivery/overseas orders please refer to our Delivery Information.