Notre Coeur – A Woman's Pastime (The Classic English Edition) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A French Psychological Novel of Parisian Society, Obsession, and DisillusionmentBy Guy de Maupassant
Length0m
About this audiobook
In Notre Coeur, here presented as A Woman's Pastime, Guy de Maupassant turns from the brisk architecture of the conte to the subtler expanses of the psychological novel. Centered on the worldly Michèle de Burne and her effect upon the sensitive André Mariolle, the book anatomizes desire, vanity, emotional dependence, and the rituals of Parisian high society. Its style is lucid, ironic, and exacting, belonging to the late nineteenth-century realist tradition while anticipating modern studies of erotic disillusionment and divided consciousness. Maupassant, a protégé of Flaubert and one of the supreme craftsmen of French prose, brought to this novel both his disciplined realism and his increasingly somber view of human relations. By the time of its publication in 1890, he had achieved fame through stories and novels that exposed social pretension and private misery with clinical precision. His own experience of fashionable Paris, artistic circles, illness, and emotional instability deepened the book's atmosphere of elegance shadowed by futility. Readers drawn to Henry James, Flaubert, or the psychological fiction of fin-de-siècle Europe will find Notre Coeur especially rewarding. It is recommended for those who value refined social observation, moral ambiguity, and a penetrating portrait of love as both enchantment and self-deception.
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, Mystery and Thriller
Length0 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 31, 2017
LanguageEnglish
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