French Literature Reviews - 2026

Y. Leclerc (ed.), Maupassant, le noir plaisir de raconter
Other Literary Studies

Y. Leclerc (ed.), Maupassant, le noir plaisir de raconter

Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, CNED collection, 176 p.

• 19.00 €
• EAN13: 9782130591955

Publisher's overview:

The syllabus for the 2012 *agrégation* in literature features two collections by Maupassant: the first one he published in 1881, La Maison Tellier, following the resounding success of "Boule de suif", and a collection from the midpoint of the short-story writer's career, Contes du jour et de la nuit, published in 1885.
Dedicated to these two collections—examined within a broad cultural context (biographical, editorial, and cultural) and across the entirety of Maupassant's literary universe—this volume of lectures and exercises is primarily intended for *agrégation* candidates, but it will also appeal to teachers, students, and anyone who looks beyond the deceptive simplicity of a style that excels at appearing "natural".

Table of contents:

Contents

Foreword

by Louis Forestier (Université Paris IV-Sorbonne)

PART ONE

Lectures

I. Contexts

1. The Genesis of Publications (Marlo Johnston)

2. The Aesthetic Moment: Realism, Naturalism (Yvan Leclerc, University of Rouen)

3. From Press to Collections (Emmanuèle Grandadam, University of Rouen)

II. Poetics

1. Compiling the Stories and the Question of the Collection (Emmanuèle Grandadam)

2. Genres (Yvan Leclerc)

3. Narrative Forms (Yvan Leclerc)

4. The Poetics of Place (Emmanuèle Grandadam)

PART TWO

Exercises

I. Dissertation

by Fanny Bérat

II. Lecture Lesson: Paris and the Suburbs

by Fanny Bérat

III. Literary Study: "La Femme de Paul"

by Fanny Bérat

IV. Textual Analysis

by Fanny Bérat

V. Oral Grammar Examination

by Laure Himy-Piéri (University of Caen)

VI. Grammatical Study of a Work Postdating 1500

by Laure Himy-Piéri

Bibliography

Index of Cited Tales and Short Stories

The Authors

Foreword by Louis Forestier, editor of Maupassant's Romans and Contes et nouvelles in the "Bibliothèque de la Pléiade" series (Gallimard).
Fanny Bérat-Esquier holds an *agrégation* in modern literature and a doctorate, and is a teacher at Lycée Jules Verne in Cergy.
Emmanuèle Grandadam holds an *agrégation* in modern literature and a doctorate, and teaches at the University of Rouen.
Laure Himy-Piéri is a senior lecturer (HDR) in stylistics at the University of Caen.
Marlo Johnston is an editor, translator, and biographer of Maupassant.
Yvan Leclerc is a professor of modern literature at the University of Rouen.

Guy de Maupassant remains a central figure in nineteenth-century French literature, particularly known for his mastery of the short story form. His work often bridges the transition between Realism and Naturalism, reflecting the complex social and aesthetic shifts of the late nineteenth century. The collections La Maison Tellier and Contes du jour et de la nuit serve as focal points for understanding his narrative techniques and his engagement with the literary marketplace of his time. Readers interested in the evolution of the short story genre may find this volume of lectures and exercises relevant to their studies.

This volume, edited by Y. Leclerc, examines the genesis of Maupassant's publications and the transition of his stories from the press into collections. The contributors analyze narrative forms, the poetics of place, and the aesthetic context of Realism and Naturalism. The work includes lectures on these topics alongside academic exercises, including dissertations, textual analyses, and grammatical studies, intended for agrégation candidates and students of literature.