Bel-Ami
Bel-Ami is a novel by Guy de Maupassant published in 1885. It describes the professional and social rise of the former NCO Georges Duroy in Paris at the end of the 19th century. The various German translations also appeared under the title Der Schöne Freund or Der Schöne Georg . With over 50 editions up to 1887, the bitingly ironic novel is one of Guy de Maupassant's most successful works.
content
The uneducated Duroy, addicted to recognition, meets, almost penniless, his former comrade Forestier, who now works for the newspaper La vie française . This gives him a job as a reporter and contribution writer there. Duroy realizes, however, that he lacks any talent for writing; So he lets Forestier's wife help him, with whom he soon becomes friends.
In the meantime Forestier introduced him to society, and Duroy quickly made a career thanks to his acquaintance with several high-ranking women. A child, of all people, the daughter of his first lover, gave him the nickname Bel Ami , by which he would soon be known.
After Forestier's death, he married his widow, but soon enough of her and took the opportunity to surprise her red-handed in adultery . Shortly thereafter, Duroy seduces the daughter of the newspaper publisher Walter, one of the richest men in Paris, who made his money by buying up land. Although Walter is reluctant to marry Du Roy (he changes his name a few times in the course of the novel), he finally has to consent to the marriage after Du Roy had kidnapped Walter's daughter. His second wedding finally made him a respected man and opened him up to the top of society.
expenditure
- Books
- Guy de Maupassant: Bel-Ami . Garnier, Paris 1988, ISBN 2-04-017405-2 .
- Guy de Maupassant: Bel-Ami. Roman Dtv, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-423-12934-4 .
- Guy de Maupassant: Bel-Ami . Insel taschenbuch, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-458-35740-7 .
- Audio books
- Guy de Maupassant: Bel-Ami. Audio book . Delta Music, Frechen 2006, ISBN 3-86538-222-3 (5 CDs, read by Simon Roden).
- Guy de Maupassant: Bel-Ami. Audio book . PolygramKlassik, Hamburg 1996 (9 audio cassettes, read by Christoph Bantzer).
Adaptations
- Movie
- Willi Forst (Director): Bel Ami (1939)
- The Bel Ami private affairs, USA 1947
- Louis Daquin (Director): Bel Ami (1955)
- Helmut Käutner (Director): Bel Ami (1968) - TV series with Helmut Griem in the leading role
- Mac Ahlberg (director): Scandinavian lust - porn adaptation that only superficially has something in common with the novel
- Declan Donnellan , Nick Ormerod (Director): Bel Ami (2012)
- radio play
- Guy de Maupassant: Bel ami. Radio play . Der Hörverlag, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-89584-874-3 (2 cassettes, edited by Helmut Peschina , director: Claudia Johanna Leist, with Christian Brückner , Anna Thalbach , Werner Wölbern , Angelika Bartsch , Hermann Lause and others, music: Henrik Albrecht ).
- song
- musical
- Peter Kreuder : Bel Ami (musical) . 1960.
literature
- Jacques Vassevières: Maupassant, "Bel Ami." Résumé analytique, commentaire critique, documents complémentaires. Row: Balises. Nathan, Paris 1994, ISBN 2091801194 (in French)
Web links
- Bel-Ami as audio book (French)
- Bel-Ami at Project Gutenberg