Peter Perkins reviews 19th century Parisian skulduggery in this week’s Classic of the Week.

Guy de Maupassant was perhaps better known in his country as a waiter and short story writer, but here he gives us a superb novel set in Paris in 1880.

George Duroy, otherwise known as Bel Ami, is a deficient young man from humble beginnings who moves expertly into the riches of upper-class Parisian society. In his meteoric rise he requires a wealthy spouse, editorship of the foremost Parisian newspaper, the undoubted promise of political ministerial office and of course, several mistresses to go with it.

It is essentially a tale of large-scale skulduggery and if Bel Ami is a scoundrel, well so are most of Maupassant’s other characters too. Corruption, blackmail, sexual liaisons too numerous to mention and senility are the orders of the day; the main thread of corruption tying press and politics. However, if this brief description sounds too alarming do not be put off. The whole is wrapped up in the most fascinating description of Paris: drinking and dining in salons and restaurants, social, sexual and political manners and thought.

The tale could be set in any major western city circa 2010, being essentially very modern in concept. Maupassant’s prose is silky-smooth, his characters delightfully flawed and Bel-Ami a wonderful read.

Bel-Ami is available now from Oxford World’s Classics.