Claire de Lune

by Guy de Maupassant

CLAIR DE LUNE PAR GUY DE MAUPASSANT TABLE Clair de Lune Un Coup d'Etat Le Loup L'Enfant Conte de Noel La Reine Hortense Le Pardon La Legende du Mont Saint-Michel Une Veuve Mademoiselle Cocotte Les Bijoux Apparition

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, French Literature, Fiction, France, Romance, Literature

106 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 19, 1882

About the author

Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer. He is one of the fathers of the modern short story. A protege of Flaubert, Maupassant's short stories are characterized by their economy of style and their efficient effortless dénouement. He also wrote six short novels. A number of his stories often denote the futility of war and the innocent civilians who get crushed in it - many are set during the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870s.

Reviews

[huzeyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guy de Maupassant gercekten buyuk hikayecisin. Uzun bir review yazmam gerek biliyorum ama saat cok geec :)

[Kushagri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guy de Maupassant’s Clair de Lune transcends the label of a simple love story. It's a prismatic exploration of love's multifaceted nature, filtered through the poignant lens of human connection and the ephemeral beauty of a moonlit night. It's a profound exploration of faith shaken by beauty. We enter the world of Abbé Marignan, a man whose unshakable religious beliefs have been his compass. Yet, beneath the soft, seductive glow of a moonlit night, his world begins to tilt.

The Abbé's unspoken affection for his niece feels bittersweet, tinged with a sense of forbidden longing and the weight of societal constraints. The idyllic moonlight setting becomes a stage for a love that can only exist in stolen glances and unspoken desires.
There's a quiet desperation in the uncle's internal monologue. He questions societal norms, ponders the divine purpose of such a beautiful night, and wrestles with the guilt of his feelings.

The man was the taller, and held his arm about his sweethearts neck and kissed her brow every little while. They imparted life, all at once, to the placid landscape in which they were framed as by a heavenly hand. The two seemed but a single being, the being for whom was destined this calm and silent night, and they came towards the priest as a living answer, the response his Master sent to his questionings.

And he said unto himself: 'Perhaps God has made such nights as these to idealize the love of men.'

The story's brilliance lies in its subtlety. There are no grand declarations of love, no passionate embraces. This interplay of emotions is what elevates "Clair de lune" from a romance to a profoundly moving story. It's about love, in all its forms – the budding hope of new love, the bittersweet ache of missed opportunities, and the quiet contentment of witnessing another's happiness.

The genius of "Clair de Lune" lies in its ambiguity. The ending offers no grand pronouncements. We're left with the Abbé, shaken, his head bowed as if under a mysterious burden. Did he experience a crisis of faith? A fleeting moment of beauty-induced desire? Or perhaps a glimpse of a more expansive spirituality, one that embraces the world's sensual delights alongside religious devotion?

Why did God make this? Since the night is destined for sleep, unconsciousness, repose, forgetfulness of everything, why make it more charming than day, softer than dawn or evening? And why does this seductive planet, more poetic than the sun, that seems destined, so discreet is it, to illuminate things too delicate and mysterious for the light of day, make the darkness so transparent?
Why does not the greatest of feathered songsters sleep like the others? Why does it pour forth its voice in the mysterious night?

Why this half-veil cast over the world? Why these tremblings of the heart, this emotion of the spirit, this enervation of the body? Why this display of enchantments that human beings do not see, since they are lying in their beds? For whom is destined this sublime spectacle, this abundance of poetry cast from heaven to earth?


The narrative lulls us with idyllic descriptions - the prose is poetic, a luminous tapestry woven with moonlight and unspoken yearnings. Each sentence evokes a vivid image, whether it's the hushed intimacy of the garden or the internal turmoil churning within the character. You can practically feel the cool night air and the weight of longing hanging heavy in the atmosphere.

The story leaves a lasting impression.

[Soner Turgay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maupassant gerçekten büyük hikayeci !

Bu okuduğum en iyi seçkilerinden birisi ve insanların bencilliği, varsayımları, önyargıları ve gizli korkuları üzerinde hazine değerinde hikayeler barındırıyor. Her biri son derece iyi bir tempoyla ilerliyor, merak duygusunu yükseltiyor ve müthiş finallerle sona eriyor. Düşünsel kültüre o kadar damgasını vurmuş ki bu akış bazı hikayelerdeki motifleri sinemadan, dizilerden , modern dönem edebiyatından hatırlıyorsunuz.

Maupassant'ın hocası Flaubert onu bir ağaçla birkaç saat başbaşa bırakır ve düşündüklerini, izlenimlerini kağıda dökmesini istermiş. Bu kadar berrak yazmasının nedeni bu mudur bilemiyorum ama yılları paragraflarla, haftaları satırlarla o kadar net ve rafine ifade ediyor ki hayran kalmamak, tekrar tekrar okumamak mümkün değil.

[Yusuf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maupassant hikaye yazıyor. Yani ortada gerçekten başı ve sonu olan "hikaye"ler var. Bi basit ama çok kritik bir nokta benim için, zira her hikayeci hikaye yazmıyor. Mesela Sait Faik bu konuda bazen beni hayal kırıklığına uğratıyor.

Kitaptaki öykülerin çoğunu beğendim, hatta çok beğendim. Insanın içindeki dehlizlerde dolanan, ama bu gözlem gücünü dile dökme yeteneği de eşsiz bir yazar Maupassant. Bu iki yetenek nadir olarak aynı kişide bulunuyor. Denk geldiğim tüm kitaplarını da okuyacağım bir yazar oldu diyebilirim.

[Aistė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pradžia buvo sunki. Rinkau raides viena po kitos, viskas aplink trukdė susikaupti ir teko kelissyk sakinius skaityti iš naujo. Bet po trečios novelės pajaučiau ritmą ir tuomet, pagauta impulso, leidausi su Maupassant į kelionę po Prancūziją, daugiausia Paryžių. Tam, esu įsitikinusi, reikėjo namų ramybės, tylos.
Įprastai recenzijose Maupassant įvardijamas kaip klasikas. Na, man modernumas su klasika yra visiškai nesuderinami apibūdinimai, nebent „klasika“ įvardijama ne kaip žanras, o kaip būdvardis, kaip mamos sako „klasiška suknelė“ :) Man Maupassant vakarietiškos modernios literatūros kalvis. Dėl to visad sąmoningai greta turinio skaitau braižą, stabteliu pasigrožėti sakinių struktūra, jų paprastumu. Siužetai gan neįprasti, nors ir apie paprastus žmones.
Trikdė tik viena - pabaigos. Bemaž visos su trumpu sakiniu, teiginiu, personažo verdiktu. Lyg autorius nežinotų kaip gi greičiau užbaigti pasakoti.
Skaitant nuolat lydėjo jausmas, kad įvyks kažkas blogo, didingo, sukrečiančio, tačiau taip niekas ir neįvyko. Tik viena novelė buvo "such wow", kurioje buvo taip šlykštu, kad norėjosi peršokti pastraipą, neleisti vaizduotei įsisiūbuoti. Šuns žudymo novelė išties buvo meistriška. Mėgstu, kai knygos geba manipuliuoti.

[Cao Đức Hiếu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lời văn đẹp và nghiệt ngã. Có những truyện đặt sách xuống rồi vẫn thấy bàng hoàng. Có lẽ ông hợp với chữ "quỷ tài" vì độ ma quái và điên loạn (mặc dù giai đoạn Maupassant viết cuốn này vẫn đang bình thường).

[Vygandas Ostrauskis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mopasanas – vienas iš žymiausių pasaulio novelistų, jo kūryba turėjo įtakos daugeliui vėliau trumpąją prozą rašiusių kūrėjų įvairiausiose šalyse, neaplenkiant ir Lietuvos (R. Lankauskas, M. Sluckis). Geriausios Mopasano novelės pateko į Pasaulinės literatūros bibliotekos 67 knygą, kur be jų dar patalpinti ir romanai "Mielas draugas", "Pjeras Ir Žanas". Turbūt todėl 2009 m. išleistoje novelių rinktinėje "Mėnesiena" jų nėra. Bet ir skelbiamos 17 novelių tikrai neblogos ir tie skaitytojai, kurie mėgsta mažąją prozą, jomis pasimėgaus.

[Tran Hiep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nể phục tài năng của tác giả. Mỗi truyện ngắn đều khiến cảm xúc trong tôi bùng nổ. Từ nỗi hoài niệm về quá khứ vàng son của cặp đôi vũ công già, từ sự thức tỉnh trước vẻ đẹp của tình yêu đến cái giá của lối sống phù phiếm, đến ảnh hưởng ghê gớm của sáng chấn hay những bi hài trong cái xấu xa của con người, những sự thật trần trụi về con người dù tốt đẹp hay xấu xa đều đã tác giả bốc tách một cách tài tình, trực diện mà không kém phần tinh tế qua từng câu từ dung dị.

[Flo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. (2019. Are we still using that word?)

Jan 18, 19
* Never on my blog.

[nevra]

Çoğu öykünün daha iyi yerlere gelebileceğini düşünüp durdum. Takı ve horla işte budur ya dediklerimdendi. Toparlak <3 kocaman sarıldım sana.

[Laetitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any French books in what feels like a century so I thought I'd start off by reading some Maupassant to ease myself into it again. It turned out to be a great decision. Not only do I find Maupassant's writing highly readable but hilarious too.

I loved how some of the stories in this collection go from funny and strange to incredibly dark and disturbing (see "Une Veuve" and "Mademoiselle Cocotte" for instance). You won't find any rainbows and ponies in his stories but if you're into dry humour, the supernatural and exploring the mechanics of madness, Maupassant has plenty to offer.

[Darcel Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And he said to himself, ‘Perhaps God has created this sort of night in order to imbue the love of man with something of the ideal.’ He retreated as the two, entwined, approached ever closer. And though she was his niece he now wondered whether he could disobey the will of God. How could God disapprove of love since he surrounded it with such obvious splendour? Distraught and almost ashamed, he disappeared quickly from sight, as if trespassing in a temple where he had no right to be.”

[Ruby Nguyễn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Xuất sắc và xuất sắc, từ tác giả cho đến dịch giả. Nếu một ngày bị nhiễm độc vì những thứ nghe hay đọc hằng ngày, hãy đọc tập truyện này để ngôn ngữ được thanh lọc trở lại.

[Mely ☁️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Obalola Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reminded of the Aesop Fables. The one with the moral lesson about a donkey and it's master.
There was a change in government and the master feverishly told everybody why this was a bad thing. Turning to the donkey he said: aren't you concerned about the change in government?"
The donkey replied that unless it would reduce the load it's master placed on him, it didn't matter."
(I paraphrased it).

[Alicia V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guy de Maupassant là một trong những nhà văn viết truyện ngắn xuất sắc nhất.
Tuyển tập Clair de lune (Sáng trăng) gồm nhiều tác phẩm với giọng văn thay đổi khi buồn man mác, khi châm biếm chua chát, khi hờ hững... nhưng đều để lại những bài học triết lý nhân sinh nhẹ nhàng, dễ hiểu mà sâu sắc.

[Nuray · Rating 4 out of 5]

öykü dediğin

[alina boop · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She was the tempter who led the first man astray, and who since then had ever been busy with her work of damnation, the feeble creature, dangerous and mysteriously affecting one. And even more than their sinful bodies, he hated their loving hearts”

“And he went back musing, almost ashamed, as if he had intruded into a temple where he had, no right to enter”.

[Polina Kim (polinaspages) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read only Clair de Lune and wasn’t a fan. The other stories did nothing for me either. I don’t think I’ll be giving the collection another chance.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enfes bir öykü derlemesi. Farklı farklı karakterler ve sosyoekonomik çevreler var öykülerde. Hepsi de çok başarılı betimlenmiş. Doğaüstü temaların sık işlenmesini biraz garipsedim ama yine de çok keyifliydi. Bir çırpıda bitti, hikaye okumayı çok özlemişim.

[Boti Xuebar · Rating 4 out of 5]

La nouvelle "Clair de lune" est merveilleuse. Les autres sont chouettes aussi.

[Debbie Reads]

It’s….. ✨debussay ✨— Edward Cullen

[Atlantisli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hikaye okumayı çok seven biri değilimdir bu kitabı da okuyanların tavsiyesiyle büyük umutlarla almıştım ama çok da beklentimi karşılamadı. Hikayeler kesinlikle sıkıcı ve anlamsız değil sadece sonuca bağlanmayan şeyleri okumayı pek sevmiyorum. Sonlardaki hikayaler ilk baştakilerden daha güzel olduğunu düşünüyorum. Olay örgüsü ve anlatımı okumayı kolaylaştırıyordu.

[HALIMA Elyoussoufi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un bon recueil de nouvelles. Une lecture légère qui se lit facilement. J'ai toujours apprécié le style de maupassant car je le trouve limpide et claire.

[Özgür Demirci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toparlak ve Takı oldukça güzel hikayeler. Yazarın tarzı güzel ve dili akıcı.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always wanted to read de Maupassant, specifically The Necklace, but assumed I would read it him in English. I have to read a book for French class, though, and I think that's a good thing - he writes beautifully.

October 2016:

Finally finished this. A great thing, to have a book of short stories you can pick up and put down in the background, and even better when it's in another language - MUCH less commitment than trying to read a whole novel in another language.

This is a funny collection - you can definitely tell which stories were written carefully and which were written to make a quick couple bucks. I can't say that too many of the stories stand out, because I read them over such a lengthy period, I mostly remember the last few. The very last story in particular was an interesting one, which I think I'd like to attempt to translate to English for fun and practice.

The biggest challenge in reading Maupassant's stories is, as it so often is with reading old literature in another language, the outdated vocabulary. All of the carriage types and weird clothing items and funny kitchen props that you don't know the words for because you never studied them in school can really slow you down. On the other hand Maupassant writes in a relatively straightforward way (for someone so romantic), so it's easy to follow most of the stories, despite the vocabulary issues.

[Andre Piucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Et il ouvrit sa porte pour sortir; mais il s'arrêta sur le seuil, surpris par une splendeur de clair de lune telle qu'on n'en voyait presque jamais. Et comme il était doué d'un esprit exalté, un de ces esprits que devaient avoir les Pères de l'Église, ces poètes rêveurs, il se sentit soudain distrait, ému par la grandiose et sereine beauté de la nuit pâle. (...) Il se mit à respirer longuement, buvant de l'air comme les ivrognes boivent du vin, et il allait à pas lents, ravi, émerveille, oubliant presque sa nièce.

Dès qu'il fut dans la campagne, il s'arrêta pour contempler toute la plaine inondée de cette lueur caressante, noyée dans ce charme tendre et languissant des nuits sereines. Les crapauds à tout instant jetaient par l'espace leur note courte et métallique, et des rossignols lointains mêlaient leur musique égrenée qui fait rêver sans faire penser, leur musique légère et vibrante, faite pour les baisers, à la séduction du clair de lune."

[Mèo Nuôi Râu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Một tuyển tập truyện ngắn rất hay, không hổ danh là bậc thầy truyện ngắn Guy de Maupassant. Mở đầu là Bố của Simon vô cùng quen thuộc trong sách Ngữ văn 8 nên mình cứ ngỡ đây là một chuỗi những câu chuyện nhẹ nhàng thuần khiết lãng mạn như thế. Nhưng mà không hề nha, những truyện sau có những truyện đen tối, buồn sầu nhân tình thế thái vô cùng. Nói chung là đủ loại cung bậc cảm xúc. Cuối cùng tựu trung lại là hay. Kiểu như một bản nhạc dài có nốt thăng nốt trầm vậy đó.
Rất, rất đáng đọc.

#meonuoirau #sangtrang #guydemaupassant

[Hollandadaokurgezer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ünlü öykücü Maupassant ile ilk tanışma kitabım olan Ay Işığı bende oldukça iyi bir izlenim bıraktı. Öyküleri zevkle ve merakla okudum. Öyküler o kadar yalın ve net ki bazen ani bir tokat yemiş gibi oluyorsunuz. Yazar insanın acımasızlığını, iki yüzlülüğünü, duyarsızlığını ve pek çok insani duyguyu öyküleriyle çarpıcı bir şekilde önünüze koyuyor. Öykü okumaktan keyif alan herkese öneriyorum. Ben de kitaplarını okumaya devam edeceğim. İyi Okumalar.

[Elçin Arabacı · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okuduğum tüm öykü kitapları içinde kesinlikle en iyilerden biri. Çok başarılı. Guy de Maupassant’ı bu kadar geç keşfettiğime hayıflandım kitabı bitirince. Çok ustaca, insanî zafiyetleri incelikle, dantel gibi işleyen nefis bir kara mizah tadı bırakıyor geride. Gözlemciliğinin kuvvetine hayran kalmamak elde değil.