Imagine a story about a man who used his good looks to sleep his way to the top. Now imagine this story written by a late 19th century writer. That in essence is Bel Ami (“Pretty Boy” in French), author Guy de Maupassant’s second novel. What a refreshing role reversal, I thought. 

It starts off very much like a fairy tale: once upon a time, a young man George Duroy wanders up and down the fashionable streets of post-revolution Paris, wishing desperately to be something more, more than a young war veteran borne from French peasant stock with barely enough money to buy his next meal. But the one thing George has going for him is luck. He bumps into a former comrade who takes him under his wing and gives him a job at a minor Paris newspaper. Very soon, George’s good looks gains him access into the world of the political elite, not to mention the hearts and bedrooms of several women, including the wife of the helpful former comrade. Stepping on the backs of several mistresses and his own wife, George’s star rises rapidly in Parisian society, exactly like a talentless reality star in today’s world, only famous for being at the right place at the right time.

The book provides an interesting social commentary at Parisian society at that time. Even after a bloody revolution ridding the country of royalty, Parisians still retain an elitist social structure based on wealth and power. The book describes some of these affluence in great detail, to the point of being farcical.

In some way we’re all rooting for George. Even though he was not born with all privileges of the wealthy, he still manages to fool his way to the top. It is inevitable that he becomes more ruthless and intentionally destroys many lives to fuel his social ascent. It is not that the women he takes advantage of are weak. With the exception of one, the women often get what they want out of their relationship with George. George is as much of an escape from their lives as they are to his.

Guy de Maupassant was well-known for his short stories and the prose is equally tight in this novel (though I have to admit the archaic language made some of the descriptions rather boring to read.) The story is remarkably contemporary which is probably why it’s being adapted into a film. It’ll be interesting to see if the adaptation focuses more on being a period piece or a dramatic piece.

Rating: Slow at first it’s a good read at the end. Persistence will pay off but only if you love reading classics.