The life of Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893), a French writer in the last third of the 19th century, was short and bright. Having entered literature rapidly, “like a meteor,” in ten years he managed to create hundreds of works that captivated, delighted, and even frightened the public. He did not like it when interest in his work turned into curiosity about his person. And in every possible way he protected both the sovereign right to private life, hidden from prying eyes, and his copyrights. As you know, Maupassant loved life and all its pleasures and joys, but fate gave him only 43 years, and with a terrible ending - madness. The book will be of interest to a wide range of readers, and above all to connoisseurs of literature.