Adultery, prostitution, the Franco-Prussian War, the pleasures of river and countryside, the cunning and greed of the Norman peasantry - these are familiar themes throughout his work, yet they are treated differently each time, producing stories of a dazzling originality. Boule de Suif, Maupassant's earliest triumph, and the opening story in this selection, exposes the smug complacency of a group of travellers towards the prostitute in their midst. The Piece of String and The Devil centre on avarice, while tales of humour such as A Deal and Madame Husson's May King, form a rich contrast to the gentle pathos of Two Friends.
Masterly, vividly atmospheric, his stories lay bare the realities of life and confirm his status as one of the greatest and most popular exponents of his art.