How did Gustave Flaubert support Guy de Maupassant’s literary education?

Gustave Flaubert played a pivotal role in the literary development of Guy de Maupassant, acting as both a mentor and a father figure. Their apprenticeship began in 1867, and Flaubert took a deep personal interest in the young writer’s growth.1

Flaubert supported Maupassant’s education through several key methods:

• Direct Mentorship: When in Paris, Flaubert invited Maupassant to Sunday lunches, where he provided rigorous instruction on prose style and corrected his literary exercises.1
• Professional Networking: Flaubert introduced Maupassant to prominent literary figures of the era, including Émile Zola, Ivan Turgenev, Edmond Goncourt, and Henry James.1
• Emotional Guidance: Flaubert viewed Maupassant as his disciple and treated him like a son, providing essential emotional support to the young man.1

This relationship was fundamental to Maupassant’s success, culminating in the publication of his masterpiece, Boule de suif, shortly before Flaubert’s death in 1880.1