The little cask

A successful businessman who wouldn't dream of accepting 'no' as an answer, Jules Chicot has his heart set on buying his neighbour's farm. He will stop at nothing. This short story follows his quest to obtain the house, by hook or by crook. Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) was a French writer. Famed for being a master of the short story, he also wrote travel books and occasionally dabbled in poetry. His stories mainly focus on the relationships between men and women sitting at crossroads in their lives - whether personal or professional. His dramatic flair is largely influenced by French novelist Gustave Flaubert and is perfect for fans of Anton Chekhov's short stories. The most notable of the 300 short stories that he wrote include 'Bel Ami', 'Une Vie', and 'The Dumpling'.