Pierre and Jean

Pierre and Jean, published in 1888, is a psychological novella by French realist Guy de Maupassant. It follows two brothers whose lives are shaken when Jean receives an inheritance from a family friend—uncovering secrets about their mother’s past. Maupassant probes themes of jealousy, identity, and bourgeois respectability with sharp realism and emotional intensity. Accompanied by a preface on the art of the novel, the work exemplifies Maupassant’s skill in narrative economy and psychological insight.