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The other short story that competes with "The Necklace" for the title of "Maupassant's masterpiece" is his first published story, "Boule de suif" (1880). Based on Maupassant's experiences as a soldier during the Franco-Prussian War, the story depicts the ravages of war on society and illustrates the hypocrisy of patriotism.

Another of Maupassant's stories, "The Jewels" (‘‘Les bijoux,’’ 1883), offers a plot that is the reverse of that of "The Necklace," with a character discovering that his deceased wife's supposedly imitation jewelry is in...

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Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...

1. The Necklace: Introduction
2. Guy de Maupassant Biography
3. Summary
4. Characters
5. Themes
6. Style
7. Historical Context
8. Critical Overview
9. Essays and Criticism
10. Compare and Contrast
11. Topics for Further Study
12. Media Adaptations
13. What Do I Read Next?
14. Bibliography and Further Reading
15. Pictures
16. Copyright

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