Ball of Fat (Boule de Suif) - Unabridged English Edition (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Franco-Prussian War journey exposing class hypocrisy and a courtesan's courageBy Guy de Maupassant
Length3h 18m
About this audiobook
Guy de Maupassant's "Ball of Fat" ("Boule de Suif") is a masterwork of French realism and one of the defining short stories of the nineteenth century. Set during the Franco-Prussian War, it follows a group of respectable Rouen citizens fleeing occupation in a stagecoach alongside Élisabeth Rousset, a patriotic prostitute contemptuously nicknamed Boule de Suif. With crystalline prose, ironic restraint, and devastating moral precision, Maupassant exposes the hypocrisy of class, religion, and bourgeois respectability, transforming a wartime anecdote into a profound social indictment. Maupassant, a protégé of Gustave Flaubert, brought to fiction the discipline of exact observation and the unsentimental lucidity associated with literary naturalism. His own experience as a soldier in the Franco-Prussian War informs the story's atmosphere of humiliation, fear, and compromised patriotism. Published in 1880 in the anthology "Les Soirées de Médan," the tale established him as a major voice in modern prose fiction. This unabridged English edition is essential for readers interested in classic European literature, war narratives, or the art of the short story. Compact yet morally expansive, it remains a brilliant study of sacrifice, coercion, and social cruelty.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length3 hrs 18 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateApr 16, 2015
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
6Ball of Fat (Boule de Suif) – Unabridged English Edition
2Introduction
7Analysis
3Synopsis
8Reflection
4Historical Context
9Memorable Quotes
5Author Biography
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