Afloat - Softcover

Maupassant, Guy De

Softcover

ISBN 10: 154823673X ISBN 13: 9781548236731

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017

Synopsis

Afloat, originally published as Sur l’eau in 1888, is a book of dazzling but treacherously shifting currents, a seemingly simple logbook of a sailing cruise along the French Mediterranean coast that opens up to reveal unexpected depths, as Guy de Maupassant merges fact and fiction, dream and documentation in a wholly original style. Humorous and troubling stories, unreliable confessions, stray reminiscences, and thoughts on life, love, art, nature, and society all find a place in Maupassant’s pages, which are, in conception and in effect, so many reflections of the fluid sea on which he finds himself–happily but forever precariously–afloat...

About this title

Review

" M. De Maupassant writes thoughts such as were suggested by the rocking of the waves." - "The New York Times"
" Reproduces the old, Provenc al coast in [a] sunny, meditative, poetic way." - "The Critic"
" In M. Guy de Maupassant' s "Afloat, "there is a good deal that is graceful and suggestive, besides the strictly descriptive passages, in which the French writer' s skill is always noticeable. The book records the indolent pleasures of a summer cruise from Antibes to Monaco in a little yacht, the "Bel Ami" (a decidedly significant name to persons familiar with M. de Maupassant as a novelist) and pictures of the coast, of smooth and squally days, reflections, philosophical and other, and a hundred pretty trifles of thought and diction are united in it. It is very light and very pleasant reading... " - "The Independent "[UK]
" M. de Maupassant gives one delightful notes and jottings of a leisurely voyage in a roomy and comfortable yacht, appropriately called the ' Bel-Ami, ' along the Riviera coast... the successive papers in the little book are exquisitely enjoyable reading." - "The Independent"
" In "Afloat" we have the fineness of M. de Maupassant' s observation, and the beauty of his diction in such description, pleasantly and naturally shown, at greater length than ever before. The book is a sort of idyl of the Mediterranean, on summer days... views of the sea and the blue and clouded sky, happy reflections at getting for a time outside himself and of the bustle of humanity, and the hundred and one reflections on life, on man, on all manner ofmatters and things that occur to a mind that is contemplative... "Afloat "will prove an especially enjoyable, if unpretentious, piece of outdoor literature." - "Christian Union"
" Guy de Maupassant in "Afloat" is as perfect as a poet as his uncle Gautier, and yet he ' floats' on a musical sea of prose wherein every wavelet is a verse, a rhythm, a poem, a figure: the oscillations of the Mediterranean Sea turn to fire and metaphor under his pen; a yachting voyage from Nice to Argennes becomes a series of lovely idylls finished with the keenest, tenderest fancy, furnished with all of poetry save the rhyme, and fitted with word and epithet that many a ' poet' might despair of... Of "Afloat" one may say that not de Maupassant but the sea wrote of it; for into it enter all the reveries, dreams, passions, colors, scents of the South Sea, the Mediterranean, lemon-scented Cannes, rich-hued Mentone. With rare felicity this author, like Pierre Loti, reproduces the sea-picture- the trembling, tinted, mirage-haunted, poetic sea, framed in its heroic clouds, percolated with enamored light, tossed by iridescent tempests, traversed by the exquisite etching-needle of the sun, wrinkled and emblazoned with every hieroglyph of wind and light." - "The Critic"

" In this deceptively simple way, he is a heart-stopping writer...like all the best travel books, it embraces reflectins on a variety of subjects unconnected with travel...It has spontaneity, gaiety and freshness." -- Sara Wheeler, "Daily Telegraph"
" He describes- very beautifully- what he found essential in his cruise: the wind, the sounds, the odours, the mountains, the islands, and the effect they had on him and on his imagination...He can be compassionated, ecstatic about nature, jaundiced, cynical, arrogant, anguished. His diatribe against war is superb." -- "Times Literary Supplement"
" Guy de Maupassant is best known for his short stories, but "Afloat" shows that he was also an accomplished travel writer...a fascinating concoction of sea description and whimsical asides on life in general. Maupassant imparts a terrific sense of the freedom and independence of travel...Maupassant is continually alive to the magic of the moving waters." -- James Penn, "Catholic Herald"
" Along with serious reflections upon the human condition, this journal contains more whimsical wool-gatherings, touches of travelogue, much mischievous social observation on the boating set of the Cote d' Azur, as well as some enthusiastic outpourings upon the sheer joy of sailing. All of it is recorded with the precision you would expect of this master-miniaturist and with an easy sense of fun you might not." -- "Scotsman"
" M. De Maupassant writes thoughts such as were suggested by the rocking of the waves." - "The New York Times"
" Reproduces the old, Provenc al coast in [a]sunny, meditative, poetic way." - "The Critic"
" In M. Guy de Maupassant' s "Afloat, "there is a good deal that is graceful and suggestive, besides the strictly descriptive passages, in which the French writer' s skill is always noticeable. The book records the indolent pleasures of a summer cruise from Antibes to Monaco in a little yacht, the "Bel Ami" (a decidedly significant name to persons familiar with M. de Maupassant as a novelist) and pictures of the coast, of smooth and squally days, reflections, philosophical and other, and a hundred pretty trifles of thought and diction are united in it. It is very light and very pleasant reading... " - "The Independent "[UK]
" M. de Maupassant gives one delightful notes and jottings of a leisurely voyage in a roomy and comfortable yacht, appropriately called the ' Bel-Ami, ' along the Riviera coast... the successive papers in the little book are exquisitely enjoyable reading." - "The Independent"
" In "Afloat" we have the fineness of M. de Maupassant' s observation, and the beauty of his diction in such description, pleasantly and naturally shown, at greater length than ever before. The book is a sort of idyl of the Mediterranean, on summer days... views of the sea and the blue and clouded sky, happy reflections at getting for a time outside himself and of the bustle of humanity, and the hundred and one reflections on life, on man, on all manner of matters and things that occur to a mind that is contemplative... "Afloat "will prove an especially enjoyable, if unpretentious, piece of outdoor literature." - "ChristianUnion"
" Guy de Maupassant in "Afloat" is as perfect as a poet as his uncle Gautier, and yet he ' floats' on a musical sea of prose wherein every wavelet is a verse, a rhythm, a poem, a figure: the oscillations of the Mediterranean Sea turn to fire and metaphor under his pen; a yachting voyage from Nice to Argennes becomes a series of lovely idylls finished with the keenest, tenderest fancy, furnished with all of poetry save the rhyme, and fitted with word and epithet that many a ' poet' might despair of... Of "Afloat" one may say that not de Maupassant but the sea wrote of it; for into it enter all the reveries, dreams, passions, colors, scents of the South Sea, the Mediterranean, lemon-scented Cannes, rich-hued Mentone. With rare felicity this author, like Pierre Loti, reproduces the sea-picture- the trembling, tinted, mirage-haunted, poetic sea, framed in its heroic clouds, percolated with enamored light, tossed by iridescent tempests, traversed by the exquisite etching-needle of the sun, wrinkled and emblazoned with every hieroglyph of wind and light." - "The Critic"

"In this deceptively simple way, he is a heart-stopping writer...like all the best travel books, it embraces reflectins on a variety of subjects unconnected with travel...It has spontaneity, gaiety and freshness." --Sara Wheeler, "Daily Telegraph"
"He describes-very beautifully-what he found essential in his cruise: the wind, the sounds, the odours, the mountains, the islands, and the effect they had on him and on his imagination...He can be compassionated, ecstatic about nature, jaundiced, cynical, arrogant, anguished. His diatribe against war is superb." --"Times Literary Supplement"
"Guy de Maupassant is best known for his short stories, but "Afloat" shows that he was also an accomplished travel writer...a fascinating concoction of sea description and whimsical asides on life in general. Maupassant imparts a terrific sense of the freedom and independence of travel...Maupassant is continually alive to the magic of the moving waters." --James Penn, "Catholic Herald"
"Along with serious reflections upon the human condition, this journal contains more whimsical wool-gatherings, touches of travelogue, much mischievous social observation on the boating set of the Cote d'Azur, as well as some enthusiastic outpourings upon the sheer joy of sailing. All of it is recorded with the precision you would expect of this master-miniaturist and with an easy sense of fun you might not." --"Scotsman"
"M. De Maupassant writes thoughts such as were suggested by the rocking of the waves." -"The New York Times"
"Reproduces the old, Provencal coast in [a] sunny, meditative, poetic way." -"The Critic"
"In M. Guy de Maupassant's "Afloat, "there is a good deal that is graceful andsuggestive, besides the strictly descriptive passages, in which the French writer's skill is always noticeable. The book records the indolent pleasures of a summer cruise from Antibes to Monaco in a little yacht, the "Bel Ami" (a decidedly significant name to persons familiar with M. de Maupassant as a novelist) and pictures of the coast, of smooth and squally days, reflections, philosophical and other, and a hundred pretty trifles of thought and diction are united in it. It is very light and very pleasant reading..." -"The Independent "[UK]
"M. de Maupassant gives one delightful notes and jottings of a leisurely voyage in a roomy and comfortable yacht, appropriately called the 'Bel-Ami, ' along the Riviera coast...the successive papers in the little book are exquisitely enjoyable reading." -"The Independent"
"In "Afloat" we have the fineness of M. de Maupassant's observation, and the beauty of his diction in such description, pleasantly and naturally shown, at greater length than ever before. The book is a sort of idyl of the Mediterranean, on summer days...views of the sea and the blue and clouded sky, happy reflections at getting for a time outside himself and of the bustle of humanity, and the hundred and one reflections on life, on man, on all manner of matters and things that occur to a mind that is contemplative..."Afloat "will prove an especially enjoyable, if unpretentious, piece of outdoor literature." -"Christian Union"
"Guy de Maupassant in "Afloat" is as perfect as a poet as his uncle Gautier, and yet he 'floats' on a musical sea of prose wherein every wavelet is a verse, a rhythm, a poem, a figure: the oscillations of the Mediterranean Sea turn to fire andmetaphor under his pen; a yachting voyage from Nice to Argennes becomes a series of lovely idylls finished with the keenest, tenderest fancy, furnished with all of poetry save the rhyme, and fitted with word and epithet that many a 'poet' might despair of...Of "Afloat" one may say that not de Maupassant but the sea wrote of it; for into it enter all the reveries, dreams, passions, colors, scents of the South Sea, the Mediterranean, lemon-scented Cannes, rich-hued Mentone. With rare felicity this author, like Pierre Loti, reproduces the sea-picture-the trembling, tinted, mirage-haunted, poetic sea, framed in its heroic clouds, percolated with enamored light, tossed by iridescent tempests, traversed by the exquisite etching-needle of the sun, wrinkled and emblazoned with every hieroglyph of wind and light." -"The Critic"

-Douglas Parmee's fresh new translation brings to light a book that, more so than any of his renowned short stories, shows Maupassant the man, as he might have been known to contemporary readers of his copious journalism in fin de siecle Paris. Recounting a short week spent yachting on the French Riviera, Maupassant's fictionalized memoir crystallizes the mixed motives that lead to so many of our vacations. He is at once cynical and Romantic; he is a misanthrope who can't get enough of man; he is a sophisticated raconteur who wants to talk to himself for a while.- --Benjamin Lytal, The New York Sun
-In this deceptively simple way, he is a heart-stopping writer...like all the best travel books, it embraces reflections on a variety of subjects unconnected with travel...It has spontaneity, gaiety and freshness.- --Sara Wheeler, Daily Telegraph
-He describes-very beautifully-what he found essential in his cruise: the wind, the sounds, the odours, the mountains, the islands, and the effect they had on him and on his imagination...He can be compassionated, ecstatic about nature, jaundiced, cynical, arrogant, anguished. His diatribe against war is superb.- --Times Literary Supplement
-Along with serious reflections upon the human condition, this journal contains more whimsical wool-gatherings, touches of travelogue, much mischievous social observation on the boating set of the Cote d'Azur, as well as some enthusiastic outpourings upon the sheer joy of sailing. All of it is recorded with the precision you would expect of this master-miniaturist and with an easy sense of fun you might not.- --Scotsman
-M. De Maupassant writes thoughts such as were suggested by the rocking of the waves.- -The New York Times
-In M. Guy de Maupassant's Afloat, there is a good deal that is graceful and suggestive, besides the strictly descriptive passages, in which the French writer's skill is always noticeable. The book records the indolent pleasures of a summer cruise from Antibes to Monaco in a little yacht, the Bel Ami (a decidedly significant name to persons familiar with M. de Maupassant as a novelist) and pictures of the coast, of smooth and squally days, reflections, philosophical and other, and a hundred pretty trifles of thought and diction are united in it. It is very light and very pleasant reading...- -The Independent [UK]
-M. de Maupassant gives one delightful notes and jottings of a leisurely voyage in a roomy and comfortable yacht, appropriately called the 'Bel-Ami, ' along the Riviera coast...the successive papers in the little book are exquisitely enjoyable reading.- -The Independent

"Douglas Parmee's fresh new translation brings to light a book that, more so than any of his renowned short stories, shows Maupassant the man, as he might have been known to contemporary readers of his copious journalism in fin de siecle Paris. Recounting a short week spent yachting on the French Riviera, Maupassant's fictionalized memoir crystallizes the mixed motives that lead to so many of our vacations. He is at once cynical and Romantic; he is a misanthrope who can't get enough of man; he is a sophisticated raconteur who wants to talk to himself for a while." --Benjamin Lytal, The New York Sun
"In this deceptively simple way, he is a heart-stopping writer...like all the best travel books, it embraces reflections on a variety of subjects unconnected with travel...It has spontaneity, gaiety and freshness." --Sara Wheeler, Daily Telegraph
"He describes-very beautifully-what he found essential in his cruise: the wind, the sounds, the odours, the mountains, the islands, and the effect they had on him and on his imagination...He can be compassionated, ecstatic about nature, jaundiced, cynical, arrogant, anguished. His diatribe against war is superb." --Times Literary Supplement
"Along with serious reflections upon the human condition, this journal contains more whimsical wool-gatherings, touches of travelogue, much mischievous social observation on the boating set of the Cote d'Azur, as well as some enthusiastic outpourings upon the sheer joy of sailing. All of it is recorded with the precision you would expect of this master-miniaturist and with an easy sense of fun you might not." --Scotsman
"M. De Maupassant writes thoughts such as were suggested by the rocking of the waves." -The New York Times
"In M. Guy de Maupassant's Afloat, there is a good deal that is gracef...

About the Author

Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893), after serving in the Franco-Prussian War, became a close friend of Flaubert and his circle. He wrote hundreds of short stories as well as novels and verse. In his later years, he suffered from mental illness, and he died in an asylum.

Douglas Parmée (1914-2008) translated works by Flaubert, Zola, Baudelaire, and Chamfort, among others, including the NYRB Classics titles The Child by Jules Valle`s and Afloat by Guy de Maupassant.

Douglas Parmée (1914-2008) translated works by Flaubert, Zola, Baudelaire, and Chamfort, among others, including the NYRB Classics titles The Child by Jules Valle`s and Afloat by Guy de Maupassant.

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 154823673X
• ISBN 13: 9781548236731
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 62