The History of a Scoundrel (Bel-Ami) - Unabridged (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Parisian tale of ruthless ambition, journalistic intrigue, and social climbing amid moral decayBy Guy de Maupassant
Length13h 46m
About this audiobook
In The History of a Scoundrel (Bel-Ami), Guy de Maupassant offers a glittering yet pitiless anatomy of ambition in fin-de-siècle Paris. The novel follows Georges Duroy, a former soldier of modest talent but exceptional opportunism, as he rises through journalism, politics, and high society by exploiting desire, vanity, and corruption. Written in Maupassant's lucid, economical realist style, the book belongs to the great nineteenth-century tradition of social observation, while sharpening its satire against the press, imperial politics, and bourgeois morality. Maupassant, a disciple of Flaubert and one of the supreme masters of the short story, brought to the novel his intimate knowledge of Parisian literary and journalistic circles. His experience as a civil servant, war veteran, and professional writer informed his suspicion of institutions and his unsentimental view of human motives. Bel-Ami reflects both his stylistic discipline and his fascination with the uneasy commerce between power, sexuality, and language. This unabridged edition is recommended to readers interested in French realism, political satire, and psychologically acute fiction. It remains a bracingly modern portrait of social climbing, media manipulation, and moral emptiness beneath elegant surfaces.
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
Rating★★★★ 4.1 (75.8K)
Includes Goodreads, StoryGraph, Amazon, LibraryThing
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length13 hrs 46 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateApr 16, 2015
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The History of a Scoundrel (Bel-Ami) - Unabridged (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Author Biography
Show all chaptersShow less
6The History of a Scoundrel (Bel-Ami) - Unabridged (pt. 1)
7The History of a Scoundrel (Bel-Ami) - Unabridged (pt. 2)
8The History of a Scoundrel (Bel-Ami) - Unabridged (pt. 3)
9The History of a Scoundrel (Bel-Ami) - Unabridged (pt. 4)
10The History of a Scoundrel (Bel-Ami) - Unabridged (pt. 5)
11Analysis
12Reflection
13Memorable Quotes
THE COLLECTED NOVELS OF GUY DE MAUPASSANTGuy de Maupassant51h 16m4.4 (11)$1.99 · $0.00
Gesammelte Werke von Guy de MaupassantGuy de Maupassant151h 42m4.5 (171)$1 · $0.00
Der Horla und andere ErzählungenGuy de Maupassant72h 34m4.2 (1.3K)$1 · $0.00
Mademoiselle Fifi & Other Tales – Bilingual Edition (English / French)Guy de Maupassant10h 47m4.4 (28)$1.99 · $0.00
Die schönsten Erzählungen von Guy de MaupassantGuy de Maupassant20h 32m4.3 (129)$1 · $0.00
The Celebrated Short Stories of Guy de Maupassant: 100+ Classic Tales in One EditionGuy de Maupassant86h 37m$1.99 · $0.00
The Horla (Occult & Supernatural Classic)Guy de Maupassant2h 39m4.2 (18.9K)$1.99 · $0.00
A Life (the Humble Truth)Guy de Maupassant7h 52m4.0 (18.6K)$1.99 · $0.00
Marroca & AlloumaGuy de Maupassant3h 23m$1 · $0.00
A LIFE: THE HUMBLE TRUTHGuy de Maupassant7h 51m4.0 (20.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Diamond NecklaceGuy de Maupassant1h 54m4.0 (53.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
THE HORLAGuy de Maupassant2h 38m4.0 (28.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Complete Works of Guy de Maupassant: Novels, Short Stories, Plays, Poems & MemoirsGuy de Maupassant229h 7m4.4 (720)$1.99 · $0.00
Stark wie der TodGuy de Maupassant9h 4m3.9 (2.3K)$1 · $0.00
Notre Coeur (A Woman's Pastime)Guy de Maupassant8h 38m3.8 (3.7K)$1.99 · $0.00
Notre CoeurGuy de Maupassant8h 40m3.9 (3K)$1.99 · $0.00
Maupassant: Romans complètes (Annoté)Guy De Maupassant56h 5m$0.99 · $0.00
Chroniques complètes (1876-1891) (Annoté)Guy De Maupassant44h 55m$0.99 · $0.00
La NocheGuy de Maupassant26m3.8 (556)$0.99 · $0.00
Contes de la Becasse (Annoté)Guy de Maupassant5h 17m4.0 (5K)$0.99 · $0.00
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
These Precious DaysAnn Patchett11h 14m4.5 (45.2K)$29 · $0.00
The Complete Histories / History Plays of William Shakespeare (Annotated)William Shakespeare29h 42m4.6 (2.3K)$0.99 · $0.00
Braving the TruthRachel Held Evans11h 31m4.7 (359)$29 · $0.00
The Old Man and the Sea (Annotated)Ernest Hemingway4h 27m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
Henry V (The Play, Historical Background and Analysis of the Character in the Play)William Shakespeare, William Hazlitt8h 50m4.6 (1.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
H. P. LOVECRAFT Ultimate Collection: Novellas, Short Stories, Poetry & Essays (Annotated)H. P. Lovecraft12h 28m4.6 (2.3K)$2 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust16h 8m4.5 (10.6K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Mis-Education of the NegroCarter Goodwin Woodson4h 32m4.5 (28.4K)$10 · $0.00
TORAH - Bilingual Edition: English/Hebrew (Annotated)Max Margolis, JPS28h 26m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
Betty Crocker picture cooky bookBetty Crocker, Inc. General Mills2h 13m4.5 (6.5K)$1 · $0.00
The Complete Tales of Beatrix PotterBeatrix Potter3h 36m4.5 (75K)$3 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery11h 1m4.5 (1.2M)$2.30 · $0.00
Crime and Punishment (The Unabridged Garnett Translation) (Annotated)Fyodor Dostoevsky24h 25m4.5 (15.4K)$0.99 · $0.00
The North American IndianEdward S. Curtis, Frederick Webb Hodge6h4.5 (1.2K)$2 · $0.00
The Picture of Dorian Gray: The Uncensored 13 Chapter Version + The Revised 20 Chapter Version (Annotated)Oscar Wilde16h 12m4.5 (2.8K)$0.99 · $0.00
Grimoire Of The Everyday WitchIsadora Lys / Virginia Santos5h 35m4.5 (3.9K)$9 · $0.00
Winnie-the-PoohAlan Alexander Milne2h 52m4.5 (401.1K)$3 · $0.00
Sitting PrettyRebekah Taussig7h 33m4.5 (18.9K)$26 · $0.00
The Poetic Edda & The Prose EddaSnorri Sturluson, Saemund Sigfusson9h 34m4.5 (4K)$1 · $0.00
WhistlerAnn Patchett10h 45m4.6 (4.6K)$29 · $0.00
Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolver21h 3m4.5 (949.4K)$46 · $0.00
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
Remarkably Bright CreaturesShelby Van Pelt11h 17m4.4 (1.7M)$29 · $0.00
The Old Man and the Sea (Annotated)Ernest Hemingway4h 27m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
White HotIlona Andrews13h 18m4.5 (136.9K)$5 · $0.00
The Ghost by the Billabong (The Matilda Saga, #5)Jackie French14h 58m4.6 (773)$33 · $0.00
Cast in BloodMichelle Sagara16h 35m4.6 (607)$33 · $0.00
The Captain Blood Trilogy (Annotated)Rafael Sabatini29h 20m4.6 (1K)$3 · $0.00
Ship of the Line (Annotated)Cecil Louis Troughton Smith11h 13m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
The George Orwell CollectionGeorge Orwell24h 46m4.5 (14.4K)$12 · $0.00
ShivajiRanjit Desai25h 13m4.6 (3.1K)$24 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust15h 38m4.5 (9.2K)$2 · $0.00
Driving ForceElle James4h 58m4.6 (407)$20 · $0.00
When God Calls the HeartBrian Bird, Michelle Cox3h 24m4.6 (439)$10 · $0.00
Five Little IndiansMichelle Good10h 34m4.5 (64.5K)$29 · $0.00
Lolth's WarriorR. A. Salvatore13h 20m4.6 (2.4K)$33 · $0.00
The Things We Cannot SayKelly Rimmer13h 48m4.5 (359.1K)$33 · $0.00
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du BoisHonoree Fanonne Jeffers29h 49m4.5 (58K)$8 · $0.00
Going PostalTerry Pratchett11h 23m4.5 (189.9K)$29 · $0.00
You may also like
Bel-AmiGuy de Maupassant5h 54m4.0 (58.4K)$1.20 · $0.00
The FountainheadAyn Rand32h 6m4.0 (383.5K)$30
Bel Ami, or, The History of a ScoundrelGuy De Maupassant5h 56m4.0 (74.3K)$2.30
Outcast of the IslandsJoseph Conrad11h 39m3.8 (2K)$20
The Jew of Malta Christopher Marlowe2h 5m3.7 (6.9K)Free
The TitanTheodore Dreiser21h 34m4.2 (4.6K)$2.30
Pauline's Passion and PunishmentLouisa May Alcott1h 51m3.8 (1.5K)$2.30 · $0.00
Disloyal: A MemoirCohen, Michael11h 20m4.1 (24.2K)Free
An Outcast of the IslandsJoseph Conrad11h 55m3.7 (1.7K)$20 · $0.00
Bel-Ami & Other StoriesGuy de Maupassant50h 16m4.0 (2.9K)$1.99 · $0.00
The SecretaryRenée Knight8h 23m3.6 (8.4K)$26 · $0.00
An Outcast of the IslandsJoseph Conrad11h 47m3.8 (2.1K)$2.30 · $0.00
The Revenger's TragedyThomas Middleton3h 33m3.8 (4.2K)$1 · $0.00
His Excellency [Son Exc. Eugène Rougon]Émile Zola13h 23m3.9 (3K)$1 · $0.00
Piping Hot! (Pot-Bouille)Émile Zola13h 7m4.0 (4.4K)$2 · $0.00
An Outcast of the IslandsJoseph Conrad11h 1m3.6 (1.8K)$12 · $0.00
Under Western Eyes (Unabridged Deluxe Edition)Joseph Conrad35h 34m3.9 (5.9K)$2 · $0.00
Burmese DaysGeorge Orwell10h 43m4.0 (39.7K)$1.20 · $0.00
The Market-PlaceHarold Frederic13h 6m3.5 (10)$2 · $0.00
The DelugeDavid Graham Phillips10h 13m$2 · $0.00