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Guy de Maupassant: The Dowry

“The Dowry” (La dot) is a short story by Guy de Maupassant published on September 9, 1884, in Gil Blas. It tells the story of Simon Lebrumet, a notary, who marries the young Jeanne Cordier in the village of Boutigny-le-Revours. Their marriage comes as no surprise to anyone, as Lebrumet needs money to buy a notary’s office and Jeanne has a considerable dowry. He is a pleasant man and she is an attractive woman, albeit somewhat provincial. The first days of their marriage are filled with sweetness and passion, and Lebrumet proves to be a tender and delicate husband. To enjoy their honeymoon, the couple plans to travel to Paris; however, a curious situation alters their plans.

Guy de Maupassant: A Mother of Monsters

In “The Mother of Monsters,” a story by Guy de Maupassant, a man recounts a creepy tale while walking along the beach, where he spots an elegant and enigmatic woman. Years before, during a visit to the countryside, his friend took him to meet a robust and sinister woman residing in an idyllic country house. Nicknamed “Devil,” this woman was infamous in the area for a horrifying reason: all her children were born with monstrous deformities. Infused with an atmosphere of mystery and terror, the story gradually unveils the dreadful secret of the “Mother of Monsters.”