When the beautiful and powerful Countess Samoris arrives in Paris, she is dressed all in black. She has come to attend her daughter’s funeral, a bright and innocent girl whose death has sparked a singular mystery: who killed Yvette Samoris? Powerful in its depiction of the French upper-class, “Yvette Samoris” explores the bedchambers of high-society courtesans and the hypocrisy of their visitors. Guy de Maupassant leaves a lasting commentary on our indifference and the exploitation of the lower classes; a tender adieu to innocence.
A perfect match for readers of “Madame Bovary” or “An Inspector Calls”. Can people be trusted on their appearances, or is there always something vile and sinister lurking behind the façade?
Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) was a famous French writer, often referred to as the father of the short story. A prolific writer, his best known works include “Bel-Ami”, “Une Vie” and “The Necklace”, alongside some 300 short stories, travel books, and poetry. A master of style and dramatic narrative, Maupassant’s stories are drawn to themes of war, the working class, and the human condition. One of his greatest influences was Gustave Flaubert, who introduced him to some of the central names of the time such as Emile Zola, Ivan Turgenev, and Henry James.
