Georges Duroy returns to Paris from military service in Algeria penniless. After meeting up with an old friend, he finds journalism work at a renowned newspaper. He gradually climbs the ranks to chief-editor—but all this time, he hasn't been using his wit as a writer, but rather the clever manipulation of the women around him, to get ahead. Bel Ami is Guy de Maupassant's second novel. It was first published in 1885 and was an instant success, with fifty more editions appearing in the following two years. This translation by Vizetelly & Co. was published in 1888. Bel Ami shows the rampant corruption prevalent in 19th century French high society. Guy de Maupassant (died 1893) was one of the most distinguished authors of the Victorian age. Their work has endured across generations and continues to be read and studied worldwide. As a work of classic literary fiction, Vizetelly And Company exemplifies the narrative craft and social insight that defined great storytelling of its era. Literary fiction of this period was characterized by careful attention to character psychology, social milieu, and the moral questions that animated public discourse.
