Guy de Maupassant wrote stories that often leave you thinking. His tales explore human nature with a sharp eye, showing both the good and the bad.
If you are drawn to authors who write with similar realism and who aren’t afraid to look at the complexities of life, here are some writers you might find interesting.
Readers who enjoy Guy de Maupassant might appreciate Anton Chekhov, a master of short fiction known for his sharp insight into human nature and society.
Chekhov’s collection “The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories” offers stories that explore everyday lives with piercing honesty.
The title story, “The Lady with the Dog,” follows the relationship of Dmitry Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna as a casual seaside encounter deepens into layers of longing, secrecy, and quiet emotional struggle.
Chekhov’s storytelling style has simplicity and sensitivity, with characters whose inner lives become quietly vivid. If you enjoy Maupassant’s clear narratives and thoughtful character portrayals, Chekhov may hold your interest.
Émile Zola was a French novelist known for a realistic style that vividly portrays human life, society, and moral themes. If you enjoy the straightforward storytelling and sharp character portraits of Guy de Maupassant, you may appreciate Zola’s “Germinal.”
The novel takes readers into the harsh reality of coal miners living in northern France in the late 19th century. Through the eyes of Étienne Lantier, the story explores the struggles, ambitions, and unrest among workers oppressed by poverty and dangerous working conditions.
Zola’s blunt depiction of working-class hardships, personal drama, and social upheaval offers a gripping reading experience.
Gustave Flaubert is a French novelist famous for his detailed and realistic storytelling of everyday life. If you appreciate Guy de Maupassant’s sharp yet thoughtful portrayal of human nature, you may enjoy Flaubert’s classic “Madame Bovary.”
The novel follows Emma Bovary, a doctor’s wife who struggles with boredom in her ordinary provincial life. Craving the passion and excitement she has read about in romantic novels, Emma embarks on paths of fantasy, reckless choices, and forbidden desires.
Flaubert carefully reveals the consequences of Emma’s dissatisfaction and vividly captures the tensions between romantic dreams and real life. The careful detail, realistic dialogue, and nuanced character portrayals make “Madame Bovary” an absorbing read.
Leo Tolstoy was a Russian writer known for his vivid storytelling and deep insights into human nature and society. Readers who appreciate Guy de Maupassant’s sharp observations and exploration of everyday life may find Tolstoy equally fascinating.
His novella “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” is a great place to start. It centers on Ivan Ilyich, a man living a comfortable and unremarkable life until a mysterious illness changes everything.
Faced with the end, he reevaluates everything he’s done, leading readers through an honest reflection on life, mortality, and what really matters.
Tolstoy’s detailed, realistic style creates characters who feel authentic and relatable, capturing the essence of human experience with honesty and clarity.
If you enjoy Guy de Maupassant’s sharp exploration of human nature and society, consider picking up Stendhal. His novel “The Red and the Black” is a classic you shouldn’t miss.
Set in post-Napoleonic France, it follows a young man named Julien Sorel, ambitious, intelligent, yet torn between passion and social ambition. Julien navigates romance, politics, and class tensions, all carefully observed by Stendhal’s insightful eye.
The characters are vivid; the psychological portrayal feels distinctly modern. For readers drawn to Maupassant’s nuanced storytelling and vivid characters, Stendhal’s style will resonate immediately.
Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist who captured the depth of human ambition and society’s dark side in his novels. Readers who enjoyed Guy de Maupassant’s sharp eye for detail and his understanding of society’s subtle hypocrisies will likely appreciate Balzac’s work.
One notable novel is “Père Goriot,” which explores themes of greed, family bonds, and social ambition in 19th-century Paris.
The story revolves around an old man named Goriot, who sacrifices everything for his selfish daughters, and Eugene Rastignac, a young law student eager to rise socially.
Their struggles and moral compromises reveal a world driven by money and status, presented vividly and realistically by Balzac.
Books by Ivan Turgenev often explore human relationships, emotions, and social dynamics with the kind of nuance and realism that fans of Guy de Maupassant appreciate. His novel “Fathers and Sons” offers an absorbing look at generational conflict in 19th-century Russia.
It portrays the tension between the older generation, committed to traditional ideals, and younger thinkers influenced by new philosophies. The protagonist, Bazarov, is a fascinating character: an outspoken nihilist who questions everything society holds dear.
With sharp dialogue and complex characters, this novel captures personal struggles and broader societal shifts in a deeply human way.
Readers drawn to Maupassant’s storytelling might find Turgenev’s exploration of individual beliefs and changing times both refreshing and familiar.
Oscar Wilde was an Irish writer famous for sharp wit and sharp observation of society. Readers who enjoy Guy de Maupassant’s exploration of human behavior and social hypocrisy may appreciate Wilde’s novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
The book tells the story of a handsome young man named Dorian who makes a dark wish to stay forever young. As he pursues a life of unchecked pleasure and vanity, his hidden portrait begins to reflect the growing corruption of his soul.
Wilde skillfully portrays tragedy, moral decline, and the masks people wear. This novel offers an intriguing look at vanity, desire, and the consequences of living without limits.
Readers who enjoy Guy de Maupassant’s realistic storytelling and keen observation of human behavior might appreciate the plays of Henrik Ibsen.
Ibsen, a Norwegian playwright often called the father of modern drama, explores themes of society, morality, and personal struggle with vivid characters and powerful dialogue.
In his play “A Doll’s House,” Ibsen introduces the audience to Nora Helmer, a wife who appears cheerful and carefree, yet hides a profound internal conflict.
Nora confronts a crisis within her marriage, and her dilemma exposes sharp truths about identity, freedom, and societal expectations.
With a plot that builds steadily toward a crucial turning point, “A Doll’s House” offers a thoughtful and bold look at the cost of conformity and the desire for self-discovery.
Books by Thomas Mann often capture the subtleties of human nature and the tension between social expectations and personal ideals. Readers who appreciate Guy de Maupassant’s intricate character portraits might enjoy Mann’s “Death in Venice.”
The story portrays Gustav von Aschenbach, an esteemed but weary author who travels to Venice seeking inspiration. In this atmospheric Venetian setting, Aschenbach becomes captivated by the striking beauty and youth of a Polish boy, Tadzio.
His fascination deepens into an obsession that quietly consumes his rationality and dignity. Mann skillfully examines themes of desire, mortality, and the hidden turmoil beneath outward success.
The novella is short yet powerful, full of profound psychological insight and delicate irony.
Henry James was an American-born author known for his insightful fiction about complex psychological themes and subtle personal tensions. Readers who enjoy Guy de Maupassant’s careful examination of human motives could appreciate James’s “The Turn of the Screw.”
This story follows a governess who accepts a position at a remote estate, where she must care for two children in an isolated, eerie atmosphere. Soon, she witnesses unsettling figures watching the children, raising questions about supernatural presences or her own imagination.
James skillfully keeps readers uncertain if these ghostly visions are real spirits or signs of psychological unraveling. Fans of suspenseful, character-focused narratives will be deeply fascinated by James’s approach.
Readers who enjoy Guy de Maupassant’s insightful storytelling might also appreciate Joseph Conrad’s exploration of the human condition and moral dilemmas. Conrad, known for his novella “Heart of Darkness,” presents a powerful story set in colonial Africa.
The narrative follows a sailor named Marlow, who journeys deep into the Congo in search of the mysterious Mr. Kurtz.
As Marlow travels upriver and encounters unsettling realities, he confronts questions of morality, madness, and the true nature hiding beneath civilization’s surface.
Conrad’s vivid portrayal of psychological tension and complex characters offers readers a profound and thought-provoking reading experience.
Readers who enjoy Guy de Maupassant’s sharp observation of human nature may also appreciate Theodore Dreiser. Dreiser is known for examining the complex moral dilemmas and ambitions of ordinary people trying to rise above their circumstances.
In his novel “Sister Carrie,” Dreiser follows Carrie Meeber, a young woman who moves to the city seeking a better life. Carrie soon finds that success comes with complicated choices, compromises, and consequences.
Dreiser explores ambition and desire with honesty, capturing the excitement and uncertainty of city life and the human struggle for fulfillment.
Readers who enjoy Guy de Maupassant’s insightful look at human nature might appreciate Kate Chopin, an American author known for her vivid portrayal of life in Louisiana and themes of freedom and identity.
Her novel “The Awakening” follows Edna Pontellier, a woman living comfortably in New Orleans society but restless beneath the surface. After a family vacation, Edna meets several individuals who open her eyes to new thoughts and feelings she never anticipated.
Her growing independence creates tension between society’s expectations and her personal desires, leading Edna toward a choice that shapes the rest of her life.
Chopin’s careful attention to the subtle details of everyday life, coupled with her honest depiction of a woman’s inner conflict, might resonate with readers drawn to Maupassant’s style.
Books by Edith Wharton are ideal for readers who appreciate Guy de Maupassant’s sharp observations about social constraints and human nature.
Wharton’s “The House of Mirth” portrays Lily Bart, a young woman torn between her desire for financial security and her longing for personal freedom.
Set among elite society in early 20th century New York, the novel highlights class expectations, the price of independence, and the stark reality faced by women trapped by societal norms.
Wharton’s crisp prose and insightful storytelling vividly reveal both beauty and cruelty in a privileged world that can quickly turn unforgiving. Her exploration of human motivations and emotional struggles resonates with readers familiar with Maupassant’s perceptive narratives.