Maupassant's experiences in the army during the Anglo-Prussian War provided him with ingredients for some of the finest short stories.He wrote about 300 short stories and six novels.But inspite of his wealth and fame,he was deeply distressed as his precocious and colourful life had inflicted on him with syphilis.He started hallucinating,and in 1892 even tried to commit suicide.Confined to a lunatic asylum in Paris,Maupassant died on 6 July 1893.The present collection showcases some of his most admired short stories such as Ball-of-Fat,Francis,He?-each dealing with a plethora of emotions. Meet Maupassant at his very best.