“How life is strange and changeful! How little a thing is needed for us to be lost or to be saved!” World Classic Little Book A defining characteristic of Maupassant’s short stories is his ability to build tension and deliver powerful, often ironic conclusions. His stories typically revolve around ordinary characters, caught in the grips of fate or societal pressures, and Maupassant’s sharp observation of human behavior enables him to reveal deeper truths about life and morality. “The Necklace” is one of Maupassant’s most famous and frequently anthologized short stories. Other distinguished works in this collection include “The Horla”, “The Piece of String”, and more. About Author: Guy de Maupassant (born August 5, 1850, Château de Miromesnil?, near Dieppe, France—died July 6, 1893, Paris) was a French author, celebrated as a master of the short story. Born Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant in Normandy, France, he was a protégé of Gustave Flaubert. Maupassant’s works often depict human lives and social forces with a disillusioned and sometimes pessimistic tone. Over his career, he wrote around 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books, and one volume of verse. A defining characteristic of Maupassant’s short stories is his ability to build tension and deliver powerful, often ironic conclusions. His stories typically revolve around ordinary characters, caught in the grips of fate or societal pressures, and Maupassant’s sharp observation of human behavior enables him to reveal deeper truths about life and morality. His economy of language is striking—he conveys complex emotions and situations with precision, never wasting a word, which makes his stories both compelling and accessible. His use of irony and a narrative twist, often tinged with dark humor or tragedy.