Maupassant was a 19th century French author, remembered as a master of the short story form. He was a representative of the Naturalist school, who depicted human lives and destinies and social forces in disillusioned and often pessimistic terms – which is very evident in our story this week.

Maupassant was one of a fair number of 19th-century Parisians who did not care for the Eiffel Tower. He often ate lunch in the restaurant at its base, not out of preference for the food but because it was only there that he could avoid seeing its otherwise unavoidable profile.

Maupassant penned his own epitaph: “I have coveted everything and taken pleasure in nothing.” Enjoy!