Bel Ami; Or, The History of a Scoundrel

'Bel Ami, or, The History of a Scoundrel: A Novel' is an adventure-drama novel by French author Guy de Maupassant. The story chronicles journalist Georges Duroy's corrupt rise to power from a poor former cavalry non-commissioned officer in France's African colonies, to one of the most successful men in Paris, most of which he achieves by manipulating a series of powerful, intelligent, and wealthy women.