Œuvres complètes de Guy de Maupassant - volume 20

This volume gathers some of the most celebrated tales of a master of French realism, offering listeners a blend of sharp social observation and quiet humor. Alongside the beloved novella about a provincial beauty contest, the edition includes three previously unpublished sketches that showcase the author’s playful wit. The stories, all originally printed at the turn of the 20th century, capture the rhythms of rural and small‑town France with vivid detail.

The opening narrative thrusts us onto a disrupted railway line near Gisors, where a sudden derailment leaves a massive locomotive strewn across the tracks. As the narrator limps back to the town, he runs into an old schoolmate, Dr. Marambot, whose hearty appetite and easy‑going chatter provide an instant portrait of provincial life. Their banter over a simple lunch invites listeners into a world where everyday conversations reveal deeper truths about ambition, friendship, and the charms of a close‑knit community.