欧宝娱乐

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袧芯褉屑邪薪写褋泻邪 褕械谐邪

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小褗写褗褉卸邪薪懈械:

孝邪褌泻芯褌芯 薪邪 小懈屑芯薪 (Le papa de Simon, 1879)
袠褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 薪邪 械写薪邪 褉邪褌邪泄泻懈薪褟 (Histoire d'une fille de ferme, 1881)
袛芯屑褗褌 孝械谢懈械 (La Maison Tellier, 1889)
袙褉褗褖邪薪械褌芯 (Le retour, 1884)
袠蟹芯褋褌邪胁械薪懈褟褌 (L'Abandonn茅)
袩邪蟹邪褔褗褌 (Le Garde, 1884)
袩芯 胁芯写邪褌邪 (Sur l'eau, 1876)
袙褗谢泻褗褌 (Le Loup, 1882)
袥械谐械薪写邪 蟹邪 袦芯薪 小械薪-袦懈褕械谢 (La L茅gende du Mont-Saint-Michel, 1882)
袚芯褋锌芯卸懈褑邪 袣芯泻芯褌 (Mademoiselle Cocotte, 1883)
袛褟写芯 挟写邪 (Le P猫re Judas, 1883)
袘褗写薪懈 胁械褔械褉 (Nuit de No毛l, 18826
袛胁邪屑邪 锌褉懈褟褌械谢懈 (Deux amis, 1883)
袩褉芯写邪卸斜邪 (Une vente, 1884)
袛褗褖械褉褟褌邪 薪邪 袦邪褉褌械薪 (La Martine)
袦邪谢泻邪褌邪 斜褗褔胁懈褔泻邪 (Le Petit F没t, 1884)
小谢褍褔邪褟褌 褋 谐芯褋锌芯卸邪 袥褞薪芯 L(e Cas de Mme Luneau, 1883)
袙 袘褉械褌邪薪 (En Bretagne, 1882)
袦邪谢泻邪褌邪 袪芯泻 (La Petite Roque)
袛褟写芯 袗屑邪斜谢 (Le P猫re Amable, 1886)
袥褍写邪褌邪 (La Folle, 1882)
袩懈械褉芯 (Pierrot, 1882)
袧芯褉屑邪薪写褋泻邪 褕械谐邪 (Farce normande, 1882)
袨斜褍褖邪褌邪 (Les Sabots, 1883)
袩谢械褌邪褔泻邪褌邪 薪邪 褋褌芯谢芯胁械 (La Rempailleuse, 1882)
袝写懈薪 薪芯褉屑邪薪写械褑 (Un Normand, 1882)
袟邪胁械褖邪薪懈械褌芯 (Le Testament, 1882)
袧邪 褋械谢芯 (Aux champs, 1882)
小胁械褌懈 袗薪褌芯薪懈泄 (Saint-Antoine, 1883)
袩褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 袙邪谢褌械褉 楔薪邪褎褋 (L'Aventure de Walter Schnaffs, 1883)
孝褍邪薪 (Toine, 1885)
袩谢械薪薪懈褑懈褌械 (Les Prisonniers, 1885)
袠蟹锌芯胁械写褌邪 薪邪 孝械芯写褞谢 小邪斜芯 (La Confession de Th茅odule Sabot, 1883)
袙懈褉褔械褌芯 (Le Trou, 1886)
袣谢芯褕械褌 (Clochette, 1886)
袘芯谐芯褟胁谢械薪懈械 (Les Rois, 1887)
袙 谐芯褉邪褌邪 (Au bois, 1886)
小泻懈褌薪懈泻褗褌 (Le Vagabond, 1887)
袣邪薪邪锌褗褌 (La Ficelle, 1883)
袣褉褗褖械薪懈械 (Le Bapt锚me, 1884)
小褌邪褉邪褌邪 小芯胁邪卸 (La M猫re Sauvage, 1884)
袩褉械褋褌褗锌谢械薪懈械褌芯, 泻芯械褌芯 褔懈褔芯 袘芯薪懈褎邪褋 褉邪蟹泻褉懈 (Le Crime au p猫re Boniface, 1884)
袩褉懈蟹薪邪薪懈械褌芯 (L鈥橝veu, 1884)
小褌邪褉懈泻褗褌 (Le Vieux, 1884)
袙械薪写械褌邪 (Une vendetta, 1883)
袣芯泻芯 (Coco, 1884)
袩褉芯褋褟泻褗褌 (Le Gueux, 1884)
袨褌褑械褍斜懈泄褋褌胁芯 (Un parricide, 1882)
袟胁械褉褗褌 薪邪 褔懈褔芯 袘械谢芯屑 (La B锚te 脿 Ma卯t' Belhomme, 1885)
袣褉褗褖邪胁泻邪 (Le Bapt锚me, 1885)
袙 褋械谢褋泻懈褟 褋褗写 (Tribunaux rustiques, 1885)
袘械泻邪褋懈褌械 (Les B茅casses, 1885)
袥褞斜芯胁 (Amour, 1886)
袛褟胁芯谢褗褌 (Le Diable, 1886)
袟邪械泻褗褌 (Le Lapin, 1887)
袛胁邪写械褋械褌 懈 锌械褌褌械 褎褉邪薪泻邪 薪邪 懈谐褍屑械薪泻邪褌邪 (Les 25 francs de la sup茅rieure, 1888)

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First published January 1, 1982

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About the author

Guy de Maupassant

7,151books2,949followers
Henri Ren茅 Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer. He is one of the fathers of the modern short story. A protege of Flaubert, Maupassant's short stories are characterized by their economy of style and their efficient effortless d茅nouement. He also wrote six short novels. A number of his stories often denote the futility of war and the innocent civilians who get crushed in it - many are set during the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870s.

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November 18, 2020
袧械 蟹薪邪屑 写邪谢懈 褌邪蟹懈 懈蟹芯谢邪褑懈褟 懈屑邪 薪褟泻邪泻胁邪 胁褗褉蟹泻邪 懈 薪褟泻邪泻 写芯锌褉懈薪邪褋褟 蟹邪 褍褋械褖邪薪械褌芯, 薪芯 谢械卸邪 褋懈 邪蟹, 谢械卸邪 褋懈 懈 褋懈 褔械褌邪 懈 褏芯锌! - 褏胁邪褖邪屑 褋械 锌芯 斜械谢懈 谐邪褖懈, 褔械 褋褗屑 斜械蟹泻褉邪泄薪芯 芯褔邪褉芯胁邪薪 芯褌 谐褉褍斜芯褋褌褌邪, 褋褍褉芯胁芯褋褌褌邪, 斜械蟹懈薪褌械褉械褋薪芯褋褌褌邪 懈 斜械蟹褋屑懈褋谢懈械褌芯 薪邪 褋械谢褋泻懈褟 卸懈胁芯褌 胁 袧芯褉屑邪薪写懈褟 胁 泻褉邪褟 薪邪 19-懈 胁械泻. 袩芯褌褗薪邪褏 胁 褌芯胁邪 褋褌褉褟褋泻邪褖芯 芯褔邪褉芯胁邪薪懈械 斜邪胁薪芯 懈 锌芯褋褌械锌械薪薪芯, 泻邪泻褌芯 褋械 锌芯褌褗胁邪 胁 泻褉邪胁械 屑邪褋谢芯, 褌芯泻褍-褖芯 懈蟹胁邪写械薪芯 芯褌 褏谢邪写懈谢薪懈泻邪 懈 褉邪蟹屑褉邪蟹褟胁邪褖芯 褋械 锌芯-斜邪胁薪芯 芯褌 屑懈褋褗谢褌邪 薪邪 薪芯褉屑邪薪写褋泻懈 褋械谢褟薪懈薪. (袧械 胁褟褉胁邪屑 写邪 械 蟹邪褉邪写懈 褟泻芯褌芯 褎褞卸褗薪褔械, 泻芯械褌芯 褋谢褍褕邪屑 芯褌谐芯褉械).

袧械 褋褌邪薪邪 懈蟹胁械写薪褗卸, 写邪卸械 懈蟹芯斜褖芯 薪械 褋褌邪薪邪 懈蟹胁械写薪褗卸. 袟邪 胁褌芯褉懈 锌褗褌 锌芯写锌芯褔胁邪屑 袦芯锌邪褋邪薪, 泻邪褌芯 锌褗褉胁懈褟 锌褗褌, 锌褉械写懈 屑芯卸械 斜懈 5-6 谐芯写懈薪懈, 懈谢懈 斜褟褏邪 8, 谐芯 蟹邪褏胁褗褉谢懈褏 芯褖械 胁 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯, 褟写芯褋邪薪 薪邪 谢懈锌褋邪褌邪 薪邪 泻邪泻胁芯褌芯 懈 写邪 械 褉邪蟹胁懈褌懈械 懈 锌芯褋谢邪薪懈械 胁 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹懈褌械 屑褍. 袨褋芯斜械薪芯 薪邪泄-泻褉邪褌泻懈褌械 褌械泻褋褌芯胁械 褋邪 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 懈蟹锌褉邪蟹薪械薪懈 芯褌 胁褋褟泻邪泻胁芯 褋谢褍褔胁邪薪械, 邪 泻褗写械褌芯 薪械褖芯 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪 - 褌芯 械 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 蟹谢芯斜芯写薪械胁薪芯 懈 锌褉械写胁懈写懈屑芯, 褔械 褌懈 懈写械 写邪 褋泻褗褋邪褕 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 懈 写邪 褟 懈蟹谐芯褉懈褕 胁 蟹薪邪泻 薪邪 褋褗锌褉懈褔邪褋褌懈械 褋 谐械褉芯懈褌械 胁 薪械褟. 袨斜邪褔械 薪褟泻邪泻 懈屑械薪薪芯 褌芯胁邪 蟹谢芯斜芯写薪械胁懈械 屑懈 锌芯写褋泻邪蟹邪 褌芯褟 锌褗褌, 褔械 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪. 袛邪 薪邪褌懈褋薪邪 锌械写邪谢邪 薪邪 褌褗褉锌械薪懈械褌芯, 蟹邪 写邪 褋褌懈谐薪邪 写芯 褋褗褉褑械胁懈薪邪褌邪 薪邪 褌芯胁邪 锌褗褌械褕械褋褌胁懈械. 袛芯 褉褗斜邪.

袟邪褖芯褌芯 薪械 械 谢懈 胁褋懈褔泻芯, 泻芯械褌芯 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪 胁 锌褉芯屑械卸写褍褌褗褑懈褌械 薪邪 蟹谢芯斜芯写薪械胁薪懈褌械 褉邪写芯褋褌懈 懈 褌褉械胁芯谐懈, 胁褋褗褖薪芯褋褌 懈蟹胁褗薪 卸懈胁芯褌邪 - 斜褟谐褋褌胁芯 芯褌 卸懈胁械械薪械褌芯 懈 褉褟蟹泻芯 蟹邪褌懈褔胁邪薪械 薪褟泻褗写械 芯褌胁褗写, 泻褉邪褌泻芯 蟹邪褋懈谢胁邪薪械 泻褗屑 褋屑褗褉褌褌邪, 泻邪泻褌芯 褋锌褉懈薪褌褜芯褉 褋械 蟹邪褋懈谢胁邪 泻褗屑 褎懈薪邪谢邪 薪邪 屑械褌褉懈 芯褌 薪械谐芯. 袧械褖邪褌邪, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪褌 懈蟹胁褗薪 谢械薪懈胁懈褟 锌芯褌芯泻 薪邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪, 谐芯 蟹邪斜褗褉蟹胁邪褌, 蟹邪写褗褏胁邪褌, 懈蟹屑芯褉褟胁邪褌, 蟹邪写褍褕邪胁邪褌, 褋褗泻褉邪褖邪胁邪褌 褋胁懈胁邪薪懈褟褌邪 懈 芯褌锌褍褋泻邪薪懈褟褌邪 薪邪 泻褉褗胁薪邪褌邪 屑褍 锌芯屑锌邪, 邪 褋 褌芯胁邪 懈 薪邪 褋邪屑懈褟 薪械谐芯. 袠屑械薪薪芯 蟹邪褌芯胁邪 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 懈屑 褋械 褉邪写胁邪屑械 懈 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 谐懈 褑械薪懈屑 - 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 泻懈锌胁邪褌 泻褉褗胁褌邪, 懈蟹胁邪卸写邪褌 薪懈 芯褌 褍薪械褋邪, 褉邪蟹斜褗褉泻胁邪褌 胁褋懈褔泻懈褌械 薪懈 胁褗褌褉械褕薪懈 褏邪褉屑芯薪懈懈 懈 薪懈 薪邪锌芯屑薪褟褌 蟹邪 泻褉邪褟. 袣褉邪褟褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 芯褖械 薪褟泻褗写械 锌褉械写 薪邪褋.

袧芯 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 械 胁 褋褗褖薪芯褋褌褌邪 褋懈 蟹谢芯斜芯写薪械胁懈械. 袙 蟹谢芯斜芯写薪械胁懈械褌芯 薪邪 卸懈胁芯褌邪 褋懈 蟹邪褖懈褌械薪. 袟邪褖懈褌械薪 褋懈 芯褌 胁褋懈褔泻芯, 薪邪泄-胁械褔械 芯褌 泻褉邪褟. 袙 薪械谐芯 锌褉芯褋褌芯 薪褟屑邪 薪邪褔邪谢芯 懈 薪褟屑邪 泻褉邪泄. 袧懈褖芯 薪褟屑邪. 袠屑邪 褋邪屑芯 卸懈胁芯褌. 袣褉邪褟褌 薪懈泻芯谐芯 薪械 懈薪褌械褉械褋褍胁邪, 褌芯泄 薪械 械 褋褗斜懈褌懈械, 锌褉械屑懈薪邪胁邪 锌芯泻褉邪泄 卸懈胁芯褌邪, 芯褌斜械谢褟蟹胁邪 褋械 褋屑懈褉械薪芯 懈 褌懈褏芯, 胁褋械 械写薪芯 蟹邪写褉邪褋泻胁邪褕 胁 泻邪谢械薪写邪褉邪 锌芯褉械写薪懈褟 芯褌屑懈薪邪谢 写械薪, 懈 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪胁邪 写邪 褌械褔械 泻邪褌芯 屑邪谢泻邪 锌褉芯胁懈薪褑懈邪谢薪邪 褉械泻邪, 薪邪 屑械褋褌邪 泻邪屑械薪懈褋褌邪 懈 褋懈胁邪, 薪邪 屑械褋褌邪 蟹械谢械薪邪 懈 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖邪 (薪芯 锌芯胁械褔械 锌褗褉胁芯褌芯), 芯斜褉械褔械薪邪 写邪 懈蟹褔械蟹薪械 胁 褌褗屑薪邪褌邪 斜械蟹写薪邪 薪邪 芯泻械邪薪邪. 袛邪卸械 褌械卸泻懈褌械 褋褗写斜懈 懈 卸懈褌械泄褋泻懈 薪械锌芯薪芯褋懈屑芯褋褌懈 芯褌蟹胁褍褔邪胁邪褌 谐谢褍褏芯 懈 泻褉邪褌泻芯褌褉邪泄薪芯, 泻邪褌芯 胁 蟹胁褍泻芯懈蟹芯谢懈褉邪薪邪 褋褌邪褟, 屑邪谢褑懈薪邪 懈蟹芯斜褖芯 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪褌 蟹邪 褌褟褏, 懈 锌芯褋谢械 锌芯褌褗胁邪褌 胁褗胁 胁褋械 褌邪泻邪 褉芯屑芯谢褟褖芯褌芯 锌芯 锌褗褌褟 褋懈 薪邪薪懈泻褗写械 蟹谢芯斜芯写薪械胁懈械 泻邪褌芯 胁 锌褉褟褋薪邪 锌懈褌邪 屑械写.

袙 泻褉邪泄薪邪 褋屑械褌泻邪 薪邪泄-谐芯谢褟屑邪褌邪 褑械薪薪芯褋褌 械 卸懈胁芯褌褗褌.

袪邪蟹斜懈褉邪 褋械, 写邪 芯锌懈褕械褕 斜械蟹泻褉邪泄薪芯褌芯 懈 斜械蟹胁褉械屑械胁芯 褋械谢褋泻芯 蟹谢芯斜芯写薪械胁懈械 褌邪泻邪, 褔械 写邪 褌械 褔械褌邪褌 懈 褋谢械写 写胁邪 胁械泻邪 - 胁褗胁 胁褉械屑械薪邪, 胁 泻芯懈褌芯 写邪 褋泻褍褔邪械褕 械 懈蟹褉邪蟹 薪邪 褋谢邪斜芯褋褌 懈 薪懈蟹芯褋褌, 邪 泻褉邪褟褌 褋褌褉褍胁邪 屑懈谢懈邪褉写懈 写芯谢邪褉懈 懈 锌褉芯写邪胁邪 锌芯褔褌懈 泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 褋械泻褋邪, 薪械 械 谢械褋薪邪 褉邪斜芯褌邪. 袧械 械 薪懈泻邪泻 谢械褋薪芯 懈 写邪 褍褌胁褗褉卸写邪胁邪褕 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 褍斜械写懈褌械谢薪芯 卸懈胁芯褌邪 褋 褌芯谢泻芯胁邪 屑薪芯谐芯 褋屑褗褉褌 懈 褌械谐芯斜邪. 袚懈写懈褟褌 屑褍 袦芯锌邪褋邪薪 械 褍褋锌褟谢.

袙褋懈褔泻懈 褋屑械 薪芯褉屑邪薪写褋泻懈 褋械谢褟薪懈 芯褌 19-懈 胁械泻, 蟹邪褏胁褗褉谢械薪懈 薪邪 锌褉芯懈蟹胁芯谢邪 薪邪 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪懈褌械 褋懈 薪械褋泻芯薪褔邪械屑懈 谢褍褌邪薪懈褟 屑械卸写褍 薪懈褋泻芯褌芯 懈 胁懈褋芯泻芯褌芯. 袗 写芯 斜邪褕 胁懈褋芯泻芯褌芯 褋褌懈谐邪褌 屑邪谢褑懈薪邪, 褋邪屑芯 蟹邪 写邪 胁懈写褟褌 芯褌 褌邪屑 锌芯-写芯斜褉械 薪懈褋泻芯褌芯.

袗褕泻芯谢褋褍薪, 斜械, 袦芯锌邪褋邪薪械!
Profile Image for Ian Laird.
447 reviews84 followers
June 8, 2017
Minor edits to fix clunkiness 4 July 2016

This bloke is a master story teller.

The eleven stories in this collection are all pretty good; some are outstanding. They are economical tales of provincial life in Normandy: a rugged place, changeable, historically and culturally rich with a unique identity. de Maupassant is by turn sad and affecting, sometimes farcical, sensual, earthy even. His stories contain poignant instances of yearning and regret, mistakes made and opportunities taken or missed.

The highlights
My favourite story is:

I listened to these stories read by Oliver Montgomery, who did an excellent job with just the right light touch. He limited his French pronunciation to place and character names rather than try speaking English with a French accent.

I have a full collection of Guy de Maupassant stories, which I need to get to. I am already thinking he might need to go on my list of best short story writers (roll call so far: RK Narayan, Owen Marshall, Roald Dahl, William Trevor, Katherine Mansfield, Carson McCullers. It had not occurred to me before thinking about the list but the nationalities of these excellent writers are quite diverse: Indian, Kiwi, English, Irish, another Kiwi and an American).
Profile Image for Classic reverie.
1,772 reviews
January 8, 2023
Guy de Maupassant's "A Normandy Joke" is a short story of country humor that does not seem funny to me because there could have been terrible harm done.

Story in short - A farmer finds trouble on his wedding night.

鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃栤灃鉃�
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It was a wedding procession that was coming along the road between the tall trees that bounded the farms and cast their shadow on the road. At the head were the bride and groom, then the family, then the invited guests, and last of all the poor of the neighborhood. The village urchins who hovered about the narrow road like flies ran in and out of the ranks or climbed up the trees to see it better.
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The bridegroom was a good-looking young fellow, Jean Patu, the richest farmer in the neighborhood, but he was above all things, an ardent sportsman who seemed to take leave of his senses in order to satisfy that passion, and who spent large sums on his dogs, his keepers, his ferrets and his guns. The bride, Rosalie Roussel, had been courted by all the likely young fellows in the district, for they all thought her handsome and they knew that she would have a good dowry. But she had chosen Patu; partly, perhaps,

鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓鉂屸潓spoiler alert

Rosalie a much sought young girl decides on Jean Patu, the richest farmer but four young neighbors tell him that the poachers will get him on his wedding night and when shots are fired many times when the couple goes to bed, these men it seems capture him and tie him up to be found later. Jean later laughs but looks to caught them at some point.

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because she liked him better than she did the others, but still more, like a careful Normandy girl, because he had more crown pieces. As they entered the white gateway of the husband鈥檚 farm, forty shots resounded without their seeing those who fired, as they were hidden in the ditches. The noise seemed to please the men, who were slouching along heavily in their best clothes, and Patu left his wife, and running up to a farm servant whom he perceived behind a tree, took his gun and fired a shot himself, as frisky
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as a young colt. Then they went on, beneath the apple trees which were heavy with fruit, through the high grass and through the midst of the calves, who looked at them with their great eyes, got up slowly and remained standing, with their muzzles turned toward the wedding party. The men became serious when they came within measurable distance of the wedding dinner. Some of them, the rich ones, had on tall, shining silk hats, which seemed altogether out of place there; others

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had old head-coverings with a long nap, which might have been taken for moleskin, while the humblest among them wore caps. All the women had on shawls, which they wore loosely on their back, holding the tips ceremoniously under their arms. They were red, parti-colored, flaming shawls, and their brightness seemed to astonish the black fowls on the dung-heap, the ducks on the side of the pond and the pigeons on the thatched roofs. The extensive farm buildings seemed to be waiting there at the
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end of that archway of apple trees, and a sort of vapor came out of open door and windows and an almost overpowering odor of eatables was exhaled from the vast building, from all its openings and from its very walls. The string of guests extended through the yard; but when the foremost of them reached the house, they broke the chain and dispersed, while those behind were still coming in at the open gate. The ditches were now lined with urchins and curious poor people, and the firing did not cease,
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but came from every side at once, and a cloud of smoke, and that odor which has the same intoxicating effect as absinthe, blended with the atmosphere. The women were shaking their dresses outside the door, to get rid of the dust, were undoing their cap-strings and pulling their shawls over their arms, and then they went into the house to lay them aside altogether for the time. The table was laid in the great kitchen that would hold a hundred persons; they sat down to dinner at two o鈥檆lock; and at
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eight o鈥檆lock they were still eating, and the men, in their shirt-sleeves, with their waistcoats unbuttoned and with red faces, were swallowing down the food and drink as if they had been whirlpools. The cider sparkled merrily, clear and golden in the large glasses, by the side of the dark, blood-colored wine, and between every dish they made a 鈥渉ole,鈥� the Normandy hole, with a glass of brandy which inflamed the body and put foolish notions into the head. Low jokes were exchanged across the table until the whole arsenal of peasant wit was exhausted. For the last hundred years the same broad stories had served for similar occasions, and, although every one knew them, they still hit the mark and made both rows of guests roar with laughter. At one end of the table four young fellows, who were neighbors, were preparing some practical jokes for the newly married couple, and they seemed to have got hold of a good one by the way they whispered and laughed, and suddenly one of them, profiting by a moment of silence, exclaimed: 鈥淭he poachers will have a good time to-night, with this moon! I say, Jean, you will not be looking at the moon, will you?鈥� The bridegroom turned to him quickly and replied: 鈥淥nly let them come, that鈥檚 all!鈥� But the other young fellow began to laugh, and said: 鈥淚 do not think you will pay much attention to them!鈥� The whole table was convulsed with laughter, so that the glasses shook, but the bridegroom became furious at the thought that anybody would profit by his wedding
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to come and poach on his land, and repeated: 鈥淚 only say-just let them come!鈥� Then there was a flood of talk with a double meaning which made the bride blush somewhat, although she was trembling with expectation; and when they had emptied the kegs of brandy they all went to bed. The young couple went into their own room, which was on the ground floor, as most rooms in farmhouses are. As it was very warm, they opened the window and closed the shutters. A small lamp in
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bad taste, a present from the bride鈥檚 father, was burning on the chest of drawers, and the bed stood ready to receive the young people. The young woman had already taken off her wreath and her dress, and she was in her petticoat, unlacing her boots, while Jean was finishing his cigar and looking at her out of the corners of his eyes. Suddenly, with a brusque movement, like a man who is about to set to work, he took off his coat. She had already taken off her boots, and was now pulling off her stockings, and
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then she said to him: 鈥淕o and hide yourself behind the curtains while I get into bed.鈥� He seemed as if he were about to refuse; but at last he did as she asked him, and in a moment she unfastened her petticoat, which slipped down, fell at her feet and lay on the ground. She left it there, stepped over it in her loose chemise and slipped into the bed, whose springs creaked beneath her weight. He immediately went up to the bed, and, stooping over his wife, he sought her lips, which she hid beneath the pillow, when a shot was heard in the distance, in the direction of the forest of Rapees, as he thought. He raised himself anxiously, with his heart beating, and running to the window, he opened the shutters. The full moon flooded the yard with yellow light, and the reflection of the apple trees made black shadows at their feet, while in the distance the fields gleamed, covered with the ripe corn. But as he was leaning out, listening to every sound in the still night, two bare arms were put
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round his neck, and his wife whispered, trying to pull him back: 鈥淒o leave them alone; it has nothing to do with you. Come to bed.鈥� He turned round, put his arms round her, and drew her toward him, but just as he was laying her on the 鈥榖ed, which yielded beneath her weight, they heard another report, considerably nearer this time, and Jean, giving way to his tumultuous rage, swore aloud: 鈥淒amn it! They will think I do not go out and see what it is because of you! Wait, wait a few minutes!鈥� He put on his
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shoes again, took down his gun, which was always hanging within reach against the wall, and, as his wife threw herself on her knees in her terror, imploring him not to go, he hastily freed himself, ran to the window and jumped into the yard. She waited one hour, two hours, until daybreak, but her husband did not return. Then she lost her head, aroused the house, related how angry Jean was, and said that he had gone after the poachers, and immediately all the male farm-servants, even the boys, went in search of
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their master. They found him two leagues from the farm, tied hand and foot, half dead with rage, his gun broken, his trousers turned inside out, and with three dead hares hanging round his neck, and a placard on his chest with these words: 鈥淲ho goes on the chase loses his place.鈥� In later years, when he used to tell this story of his wedding night, he usually added: 鈥淎h! as far as a joke went it was a good joke. They caught me in a snare, as if I had been a rabbit, the dirty brutes, and they
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shoved my head into a bag. But if I can only catch them some day they had better look out for themselves!鈥� That is how they amuse themselves in Normandy on a wedding day.
Profile Image for Judy.
66 reviews25 followers
December 31, 2012
Stories portraying the lives and characters of French peasants and provincials - but doing so far from idealistically! I found most of the tales entertaining, sometimes saddening, but always engaging with their lively narration and vivid details, which really bring these folk to life.
Comparison with other Guy de Maupassant fiction? Not for me to comment, as this is my first taste of the author! It won't be the last, however!
Profile Image for Carmel.
1,145 reviews21 followers
January 10, 2019
Lovers of short stories, rejoice. Wow! What a pleasing way to spend an hour and change.

The first few stories are better than the last few. This collection does not include 鈥淭he Necklace.鈥�

Highly recommended.
47 reviews
April 2, 2021
肖褉械薪褋泻懈褟褌 袝谢懈薪 袩械谢懈薪. 小褌褍写/卸械谐邪, 薪芯 胁懈薪邪谐懈 屑懈蟹械褉懈褟. 小褌懈褋薪邪褌懈 褋械谢褟薪懈 懈蟹屑懈褉邪褌 锌芯谐芯谢芯胁薪芯. 袙褋懈褔泻懈 卸械薪懈 褋邪 褋胁懈薪褟褌邪 屑邪泄泻邪, 胁褋懈褔泻懈 屑褗卸械 褋邪 褔懈褔芯 小谢邪胁.
3,379 reviews46 followers
April 9, 2025
AKA: Farce normande

A wedding is taking place in the Normandy countryside and the many guests in their Sunday best are coming into the courtyard to sit down at the huge table where the more-than-copious wedding feast is served along with countless jugs of cider, wine and 鈥渢rous normands鈥� (Norman intermissions) of calvados (French brandy) in between dishes. The dinner that started at 2 pm is still going strong at 8 in the evening, when many of the male guests let go with ribald remarks addressed at the young couple making the guests roar with laughter. The bridegroom, Jean Patu, the richest farmer in the neighborhood and his bride, Rosalie Roussel.
Patu does react to the teasing but nevertheless underestimates the hilarious (to his friends) trick that they have prepared for him. This short story brings to life the distinctive charm and wit of Normandy, exploring regional humor and social customs. De Maupassant captures the essence of local jokes and the cultural nuances of the Normandy region.
Profile Image for Bettie.
9,982 reviews6 followers
March 6, 2014
Oliver Montgomery, Narrator
Anna Breton, Translator
- Unabridged
- 2 CDs = 2 Hrs 38 Mins
- Naxos Audiobooks
- January 6, 2004

Blurb - Maupassant is hailed as one of the greatest
masters of the short story. This collection
focuses upon the land he knew and loved so well
- Normandy. Its people and its countryside are
portrayed here in vivid colour and with great
warmth. Amusing, saucy, and sometimes even farcical
they may be, but they are also capable of great
pathos, often branching off to end tragically. It
is this skillful and affecting blend of tragedy and
comedy, of tears and laughter, which make Maupassant's
"Normandy Stories" the enduring favourites they are today.


01. In The Country 14 mins
02. Pierrot 11 mins
03. A Normandy Joke 10 mins
04. A Cock Crowed 11 mins
05. Old Boniface鈥檚 Crime 13 mins
06. The Confession 17 mins
07. An Apparition 17 mins
08. The Little Cask 12 mins
09. The Castaway 13 mins
10. Bombard 13 mins
11. Master Belhomme鈥檚 Beast 16 mins

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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