La Maison Tellier (1881)

Set in a brothel in a small Normandy town, this collection features eight poignant and realistic stories centered on the lives of prostitutes working under Madame Tellier. Each narrative explores themes of survival in a challenging and often hostile world, delving into sexuality, love, solitude, betrayal, religion, and death. Celebrated as one of Maupassant's masterpieces, this work is recognized as one of the finest collections in French literature, reflecting the complexities of its characters' experiences.