Bel Ami, or the History of a Scoundrel

"Bel-Ami ([bɛlami], "Dear Friend") is the second novel by French author Guy de Maupassant, published in 1885. An English translation titled Bel Ami, or, The History of a Scoundrel: A Novel first appeared in 1903. The story chronicles journalist Georges Duroy's corrupt rise to power from a poor former cavalry NCO in France's African colonies to one of the most successful men in Paris. Duroy achieves this by manipulating a series of powerful, intelligent, and wealthy women. The novel is set in Paris among the upper-middle class environment of leading journalists and their friends."