Mateo Falcone

story by Mérimée

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

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"Mateo Falcone" is a short story by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1833. The story is set in Corsica and features a father who kills his son for betraying the family honor. This tale is known for its exploration of themes like violence, cruelty, and the complex psychology behind human actions, often featuring exceptional characters with intense natures. Mérimée's works, including "Mateo Falcone," are characterized by a Romantic theme but a Classical and controlled style, with a focus on mystery, local color, and psychological depth.1

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Prosper Mérimée
…of his best known stories, “Mateo Falcone” (1833), a father kills a son for betraying the family honour. The collection Mosaïque (1833) was followed by his most famous novellas: Colomba (1840), the story of a young Corsican girl who forces her brother to commit murder for the sake of a…
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…of his best known stories, “Mateo Falcone” (1833), a father kills a son for betraying the family honour. The collection Mosaïque (1833) was followed by his most famous novellas: Colomba (1840), the story of a young Corsican girl who forces her brother to commit murder for the sake of a…
Read More