Like Death by Guy de Maupassant
Translated from the French by Richard Howard
I sometimes ask myself how it is I’ve managed to get through all these years of reading without picking up a book by a particular author, and Guy de Maupassant is a case in point. For as long as I’ve been reading books in translation I’ve been aware of his name, as well as his novel “Bel-Ami”, but the only things I can be sure I’ve read are a few short stories by him in anthologies. So when a review copy of this rather lovely novel from NYRB popped through the door I was quite pleased to have the opportunity to read something more substantial by him.
Maupassant had a short and somewhat colourful life, dying in 1893 of syphilis at the age of only 42, but he left a substantial legacy of work, particularly in the short story form. His novels are apparently less well-read but on the basis of this one, that’s a shame. The focal character of the book is Olivier Bertin; a famous artist who made his name when young, he’s basically become a society painter and at many points in the book we see him struggling to find a suitable subject for his work. Now well passed his first flush of youth (he’s constantly referred to as old, though is probably what we would now think of as middle-aged), Bertin has a long-term lover in the form of Anne, Countess de Guilleroy. The two have had their relationship for some time, and although Anne has a husband and daughter, she and Bertin are almost like an old married couple, albeit one needing to be kept under wraps!
Anne’s daughter Annette used to visit Bertin’s studio with her mother when she was a child; however, she’s been away in the country for many years and now grown to young womanhood returns to Paris to be married off in a suitable society match. Bertin is shocked when he sees Annette by the resemblance to her mother when he first knew her, and slowly but surely he develops an obsession with the younger woman until the passion he feels and the jealousy this causes begins to cause a death-blow to the relationship. Anne is of course tormented by her own ageing process and to feel herself supplanted by her own daughter is agony. Annette is oblivious to what is happening, content instead to look forward to making her own suitable match. Bertin meanwhile spends much of the book in denial, and when he finally admits the truth to himself is incapable of dealing with the situation. As my children would say quirkily, ‘end well this will not…’
“Like Death” is a beautifully written and reflective book, full of passion and melodrama, but with more depth than might be thought at first. French society life is seen for what it is, with marriages made for convenience and conventions observed; and Annette herself is content to make a suitable match with a man who will share her love of horses and riding, no doubt with the option of taking a lover herself at a later date should she feel the need.
Bertin himself is perhaps something of a misfit; not quite of the same class as people like the Countess, his celebrity has allowed him access to that strata of society although he has maintained a certain air of being an outsider. In several places during the story, he displays sadness at remaining a bachelor and having no family life, wishing instead he had a cosy domestic setting with Anne. Perhaps that’s a reflection on the ageing process, as the bachelor life is all well and good while you’re young, but there comes a point where it’s no longer fun.
And Maupassant’s writing is really excellent; one piece that specifically stood out for me was the part when a character, having lost their mother, reflected on the massive loss in their life of the person who knew them best, had memories they would never get back and was always there for them in their life. It’s a powerful piece of writing and resonated strongly, as I was reading it on Mother’s Day.
But central, of course, to the novel is Bertin’s dreadful emotional suffering:
Oh, had they foreseen, had they proved the distracted love of an aged man for a young girl, how would they have expressed the frightful and secret striving of a being who can no longer inspire love, the torments of fruitless desire, and, worse than a vulture’s beak, the face of a little blonde tearing an old heart to pieces!
However, the situation is not as simple as just the infatuation of an old man with a young girl. Bertin is infatuated with his past and his early love of Anne, the girl’s mother. Initially, his obsession rekindles his love for Anne until eventually the daughter takes the place in his heart of the mother. At times, Maupassant stresses the confusion between the two women who are so alike, and it seems from Bertin’s point of view that they almost merge into one. It is only when fate intervenes and dictates that Annette must wear mourning that the resemblance becomes startling – for it was in mourning clothes that Bertin first saw Anne and painted his great portrait of her. It is here that he reaches the point of no return in his obsession with Anne. He also receives a number of blows towards the end of the book; as well as his doomed love, his work is mocked by the younger generation and his yearning for a lost youth takes on even more pathos.
But it’s not only Bertin has to deal with the effects of ageing, as Anne is devastated to realise that her looks, upon which she places so much store, are fading, a process exacerbated by grief. Despite all her artifice, she cannot compete with the youth and freshness of her own daughter, and added to the pain she feels about this is the realisation that her lover finds her own child more attractive than herself.
In a short but intriguing foreword, translator Richard Howard ponders comparisons of Maupassant’s and Proust’s work, contrasting the similarities in their ways of dealing with the process of memory. Certainly, that seems to have been an important factor in both authors’ work (at least, in what I’ve read so far) and it’s fascinating to speculate as to how much of an influence, if at all, Maupassant was on the later writer. Ironically, it’s a cruel trick of memory that brings about the crisis in “LD” and perhaps we are more under the spell of our pasts than we would care to admit.
So my first proper reading of Maupassant was a memorable and absorbing one, capturing the emotional life of society Parisians, but also delving deeper into the effects of memory on the human psyche. An excellent novel and hopefully not the last time I’ll spend time in the company of this author.
(Review copy kindly provided by the publisher, for which many thanks)
Lisa Hill
Mar 30, 2017 @ 06:55:23
I wish they’d sent a review copy of this one to me!
LOL Maybe they didn’t like my review of Like Death…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 09:15:06
🙂 You have to be honest!
MarinaSofia
Mar 30, 2017 @ 08:56:52
Quite a ruthless eye dissecting French society of the time, Maupassant has. I haven’t read this one, it sounds quite melancholy, but the process of ageing and ‘prostituting one’s talent’ seems to be a constant in his work.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 09:14:55
He does – he’s very clear-sighted about the hypocrisies he sees.
Tredynas Days
Mar 30, 2017 @ 10:04:31
Apart from the stories, which I read many years ago, the only GdM novel I know is Bel Ami – which you’d probably also enjoy. This one sounds intriguing. Hardy also dealt with the plot involving a man falling for successive generations of women in The Well-Beloved, where the male protagonist is another artist – a sculptor.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 10:18:33
It’s an interesting concept, very well explored here – and the pain it causes is almost visceral. I definitely want to read more of his work. As for Hardy – I have a mental block there, which I really should try to get past!
Jonathan
Mar 30, 2017 @ 10:41:56
I’ve mainly concentrated on his short stories up til now but I have a couple of his novels here to read. I think this NYRB version is generally available now so I’ll have to get a copy.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 11:48:30
Definitely – highly recommended!
Joan Kyler
Mar 30, 2017 @ 13:09:15
I loved de Maupassant’s short stories when I was a teenager. His and Isak Dinesen’s. They were like small jewels, so beautifully written. I have Bel Ami, but I’ve never read it. Time to take it off the shelf?
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 13:17:02
On the strength of this, I would say yes! 🙂
heavenali
Mar 30, 2017 @ 16:27:54
Superb review. I really like the sound of this. I think I read something by Maupassant many moons ago but of course can’t remember it now. Another great book from NYRB.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 18:56:06
Thank you Ali! I think you would like this – it’s very readable and very involving, and sad too. NYRB *do* bring out some lovely books!
buriedinprint
Mar 30, 2017 @ 17:30:48
We’re in the same position, having mainly known of his short stories and only toyed with the idea of reading Bel-Ami. This does sound remarkable: I’ll keep it in mind. And how lucky that you’ve had an impetus to knock a name off your list in the process!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 18:55:31
It’s a good one, and I’m keen to read Bel-Ami now!
Caroline
Mar 30, 2017 @ 18:30:09
I’ve read a lot of him but not this. It sounds good but then he never disappoints. Interestingly I was looking at my piles today and saw some unread ones. Quite a coincidence.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 18:54:16
A good time to take one down off the shelves, maybe? 🙂
Sarah
Mar 30, 2017 @ 19:14:51
I heard a play about Maupassant on Radio 4 some time ago, and picked up a collection of his short stories on the strength of it. They were wonderful, but I’d never considered seeking out any of his longer works. This does sound good. I shall bear that in mind when I’m next in the library.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 30, 2017 @ 19:20:45
Definitely look out for it – sometimes short story authors don’t make the transition to longer works well, but on the strength of this he’s equally strong in both formats!
Liz Dexter
Mar 31, 2017 @ 18:01:19
Oh goodness, can’t read him because I “did” him for French A-level and pulled Boule de Suif et autres Contes de Guerre to pieces. The only legacy of that is that if there’s a steak in the house, one of us has to shout “Le bifteck d’ours”, as you do.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Mar 31, 2017 @ 18:54:11
I’m the same with Laurie Lee, who we analysed to death at O Level. Tried to read him again several times over the years, but just can’t!! Oddly enough, Orwell survived the analysis to become an author I love to bits!
Izzy
Apr 01, 2017 @ 14:47:46
Ha ha, our teachers have a lot to answer for ! 🙂
Very nice review (The book was also reviewed by Nicholas Lezard for The Guardian on the 29 march, in case you’re interested). I have a volume of his collected short stories in a very pretty leather bound edition but I’ve never got round to reading any of his novels. Shame on me !
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 01, 2017 @ 17:28:36
They do – and thank you! I’ll look out for the Lezard review. On the evidence of this, the novels are definitely worth a look!
madamebibilophile
Apr 02, 2017 @ 13:26:37
I’ve not read any Maupassant, but this sounds wonderful. I think I’ve a copy of Bel-Ami buried somewhere, I’ll have to dig it out and fill this gap in my reading!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 02, 2017 @ 17:12:43
I don’t quite know why I’ve had a gap with him, but I’m glad I finally read him and I definitely want to read more!
Max Cairnduff
Apr 03, 2017 @ 12:25:28
It sounds excellent, and mercifully I didn’t do him for A level.
I reviewed his novella, Butterball, at mine which was tremendously well written and very strong on psychological aspects of the characters and group dynamics. Clearly strengths of his.
So, this one’s being added to my list. Thanks!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 03, 2017 @ 14:54:14
Indeed – he’s very strong on the emotions and the psychological aspect. It’s a good one – hope you manage to pick up a copy!
anna amundsen
Apr 07, 2017 @ 17:21:36
Whenever I see his name I have a picture of Marsupilami in my head (and I wasn’t even a fan; I saw the cartoon a few times only).
His books are everywhere; old, hardbound editions. One can find them on the street-bookseller stalls all around Sarajevo..
I’ve never read anything but a novella titled ‘Yvette’. I remember it being somewhat disturbing, asking myself what are his other female characters like, and thinking it was unmistakenly French.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 07, 2017 @ 19:10:30
Lol! I don’t think he looks much like that character, but you’re right – I would describe his books as definitely very French! 🙂
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