A Dead Woman's Secret

Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular French writer, considered one of the fathers of the modern short story and one of the form's finest exponents. Most of Maupassant stories are characterized by economy of style and efficient. Many of them were set during the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870s, describing the futility of war and the innocent civilians who, caught up in events beyond their control, are permanently changed by their experiences. He wrote some 300 short stories, six novels, three travel books, and one volume of verse. His first published story, "Boule de Suif" ("Ball of Fat", 1880), is often considered his masterpiece. A Dead Woman's Secret is a short story about a mother who just passed away and her family members finding out “secrets” about their deceased mother. She had died from a painless death in her bed looking like she had got herself ready before dying. She laid there looking calm and peaceful as her son and daughter were bereft. With dour expressions they decided to read the letters their mother had wrote which was kept in her drawer. Letters were directed to her children but after reading them children were amazed at the secrets of their mother...