Yvette

'Yvette' is a book written by the 19th-century French author, Guy de Maupassant, who is best remembered as a master of the short story form. The tale revolves around a teenage girl named Yvette, who lives a well-pampered and luxurious life with her single mother. She has always wondered how her mother amassed her wealth, and one day to her distraught she found out: Her mother is a courtesan.

Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant, known as Guy de Maupassant, born on August 5, 1850, in Tourville-sur-Arques, Normandy, France, is one of the literary luminaries of the 19th century. Primarily renowned for his short stories, which are considered exemplary of the naturalist school of literary realism, Maupassant also excelled in crafting psychologically intricate novels. A protégé of the eminent French writer Gustave Flaubert, Maupassant honed his prose under Flaubert's mentorship to capture the varied nuances of human experiences. His narrative structures and compelling character studies reflect the influence of his literary peers, including Émile Zola and Ivan Turgenev.

One of his notable works, 'Yvette' (1884), encapsulates Maupassant's signature style—incisive, fluid, and often underscored by irony. This novella delves into the moral and social dilemmas faced by its eponymous protagonist, a young woman enmeshed in the complex webs of desire and disillusionment. Maupassant's oeuvre frequently explores themes such as social class, the human condition, and the stark realities beneath the façades of bourgeois respectability. His narratives, while rooted in the French milieu, transcend their geographical confines to touch upon universal aspects of existence. Maupassant's literary contributions have earned him lasting accolades, ensuring that his name continues to resonate as one of the masters of the short story form.