# Bel-Ami

> novel by Guy de Maupassant

**Wikidata**: [Q339761](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q339761)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel-Ami)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bel-ami

## Summary
*Bel-Ami* is a novel by Guy de Maupassant, published in 1885. It is a literary work that explores themes of ambition, social climbing, and moral decay, often classified as a *bildungsroman* due to its focus on the protagonist's psychological and moral growth.

## Key Facts
- **Literary work**: *Bel-Ami* is a written work intended for enjoyment or edification, with a sitelink count of 33.
- **Genre**: It is a *bildungsroman*, a literary genre that follows the protagonist's development from youth to adulthood.
- **Author**: Guy de Maupassant, a French writer born in 1850 and active until 1893.
- **Publication date**: 1885.
- **Preceded by**: *Une Vie* (1883).
- **Succeeded by**: *Mont-Oriol* (1886).
- **Country of origin**: France, a country in Western Europe with historical continuities dating back to 843 and 481.
- **Wikidata description**: A novel by Guy de Maupassant.

## FAQs
- **What is the genre of *Bel-Ami*?**
  *Bel-Ami* is classified as a *bildungsroman*, a literary genre that explores the protagonist's psychological and moral growth from youth to adulthood.

- **Who wrote *Bel-Ami*?**
  The novel was written by Guy de Maupassant, a French writer who lived from 1850 to 1893.

- **When was *Bel-Ami* published?**
  The novel was published in 1885.

- **What other works by Maupassant precede or succeed *Bel-Ami*?**
  *Une Vie* (1883) was published before *Bel-Ami*, and *Mont-Oriol* (1886) followed it.

- **What is the setting of *Bel-Ami*?**
  The novel is set in France, a country with a rich historical and cultural legacy in Western Europe.

## Why It Matters
*Bel-Ami* is significant as a foundational work in the *bildungsroman* genre, offering a sharp critique of social ambition and moral decay. Its exploration of a protagonist's transformation from innocence to corruption provides a lens through which to examine societal pressures and individual fallibility. The novel's influence extends to later literary works that delve into themes of moral ambiguity and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

## Notable For
- **Genre-defining work**: *Bel-Ami* is a key example of the *bildungsroman* genre, influencing subsequent narratives about character development.
- **Social critique**: The novel examines the corrupting influence of ambition and social climbing in 19th-century France.
- **Author's legacy**: Guy de Maupassant's *Bel-Ami* is part of his broader body of work, which includes other notable novels like *Une Vie* and *Mont-Oriol*.

## Body
### Literary Context
*Bel-Ami* is a novel by Guy de Maupassant, published in 1885. It is classified as a *bildungsroman*, a genre that focuses on the protagonist's moral and psychological growth. The novel explores themes of ambition, social climbing, and the moral decay that often accompanies such pursuits.

### Author and Background
Guy de Maupassant was a French writer born in 1850 and active until 1893. His works, including *Bel-Ami*, are known for their psychological depth and social commentary. The novel is set in France, a country with a complex historical and cultural heritage.

### Preceding and Succeeding Works
*Bel-Ami* was preceded by *Une Vie* (1883) and succeeded by *Mont-Oriol* (1886), both of which are also novels by Maupassant. These works collectively represent Maupassant's contributions to the *bildungsroman* genre.

### Genre and Influence
As a *bildungsroman*, *Bel-Ami* follows the protagonist's journey from innocence to moral corruption, providing insights into the pressures of ambition and social climbing. The novel's influence extends to later literary works that explore similar themes.

## References

1. general catalog of BnF
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Goodreads
4. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute