Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (5 August 1850 - 6 July 1893) was a 19th-century French author. He wrote 300 short stories during his lifetime and is now remembered as a master of the short story form. Maupassant was inspired by Balzac, writing both high-Realist and fantastic stories. He was a protégé of Gustave Flaubert with his stories characterized by economy of style and efficient, seemingly effortless outcomes. Many of his stories are set during the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870s, describing the futility of war and the innocent civilians who were permanently changed by their experiences. Maupassant also wrote under several pseudonyms including Joseph Prunier, Guy de Valmont, and Maufrigneuse.
