Bel-Ami - de Maupassant

[Kristel]

read 2015, Bel Ami (good friend), what a man. At first we see him, he is walking the streets with barely the money to eat more than one meal a day and quench his thirst. He meets a friend from his military days and George is off. This man rises by using people. I read a review of another reader that compares Flaubert's Madame Bovary to de Mauppassant's George Duroy. This was an easy read and I enjoyed it a lot but this is not a likable character. He uses women, he plots and schemes, he takes money that is not his and he succeeds. This pretty much sums George Du Roy up; "You deceive everyone; you take advantage of everyone; you filch money and enjoyment wherever you can, and you want me to treat you as an honest man!".

[Amanda]

I listened to this one on audio recently, and it reminded me a lot of The Red and Black by Stendhal (although without the tragic ending).

Like Kristel, I was entertained by George's social climbing/plotting, but the book didn't resonate with me on a deeper more profound emotional or intellectual angle. I was also left wondering what the intent from the author was, perhaps wasn't listening close enough to make it clear, but I felt it was ambiguous on whether he was getting across that society really does cater to the scheming (not really condemned or condoned in the book imo), or whether he was trying to make a commentary on those who are social climbers, or a society that enables cons, or both.

Considering the moral character of many "self made" current billionaires, I suppose it is rather true to life that George never gets his comeuppance.

[Diane]

Rating: 4 stars

I really enjoyed this story about an unapologetic social-climber in 19th century Paris. I love de Maupassant, and this is one of my favorites by him. I did expect him to get his comeuppance, as Amanda mentioned, but that didn't happen.

[Pamela]

Georges Duroy, nicknamed Bel-Ami, is a charming but unprincipled and ambitious young man who gets a job as a journalist. He seduces women and makes alliances to gain wealth and prestige, climbing the social ladder without caring about the damage he inflicts on those around him.

This was great fun - Bel-Ami’s cynicism is jaw-dropping and he is so unpleasant, but also so much a product of the society he seeks to conquer. Maupassant’s detailed and objective style works well to document the various episodes that build into Bel-Ami’s career, from the journalists playing cup and ball in the office to the glittering social events and drives through the Bois de Boulogne.

There are a range of great and memorable characters - the ailing news editor and his cynical colleagues, scheming financiers and louche politicians, mistresses and wives, and Georges’ sullen peasant parents - but the ghastly Georges is the greatest and most memorable of all of them.

[Karen]

The story of an unscrupulous man's journey to riches and power during the French Third Republic. Using people, taking money that does not belong to him, scheming, manipulating and charming people into his rise, Georges Duroy starts he novel barely able to afford a meal and ends it marrying well and facing the prospect of gaining more and more power. (view spoiler)[ It sums up his character well that as he walks down the aisle with his new bride he is thinking of his mistress instead. (hide spoiler)]

4 stars.