Synopsis Widely hailed as a naturalist author, Maupassant based the subjects of his stories on the life he saw and lived-the Norman peasantry, Franco-Prussian War, bourgeoisie and fashionable Paris, among others. His stories are brief and transparent anecdotes, depicting a sweeping range-from the tragic to the comic aspects of life. Nearly every story is built around ordinary episodes from routine lives, and they offer insights into the unknown and hidden sides of his characters. Frustration, immorality, disillusionment, and even madness, were some of the issues he kept returning to. His stories are characterized by accurate observation, controlled objectivity and a flawless writing technique often marked by a wry humour. Countless writers, including Somerset Maugham and O Henry, are believed to have fashioned their literature on Maupassant's brilliant pen.