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Rating: 
Summary: Exceptional book - Bad translation.
Review: I love the book <<Pierre et Jean>>. I first read it in my Advanced Placement French Language/Literature class. After reading this particular English translation - the Penguin version - I was dismayed at the lack of English grammar the translator exhibited. The book has major grammar mistakes in almost every chapter. Some of these mistakes are not too picky either. For example, the subjunctive mood is often tossed aside by the author. I recommend the book to everyone, but please purchase a different translation - he didn't do the best job with this one. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: "The vile secret."
Review: Sibling rivalry is at the heart of the novella "Pierre Et Jean" by Guy de Maupassant. Brothers Pierre and Jean are totally different in every way. Pierre Roland, a doctor, is dark, brooding and serious. The younger brother, Jean, a lawyer, is fair-haired, easy going and placid. Mild resentments exist between the two brothers--this is mainly directed from Pierre towards Jean. Pierre has taken some time to decide on a career--whereas Jean had no difficulties whatsoever making up his mind. Consequently, even though there is an age gap of five years between the two brothers, they both arrive at the beginning point of their professional careers at the same time. One evening, the Roland family receives the news that Jean has inherited a fortune--thanks to a Monsieur Marechal, an old friend of the family. In the celebration that follows, Pierre begins to experience the stirrings of jealousy. These feelings are fueled by the attention lavished on Jean by his parents. But in the days that follow the news of the inheritance, Pierre begins to have suspicions about Monsieur Marechal's true relationship with Madame Roland, and Pierre even begins to wonder if Jean is Marechal's son. Fans of Maupassant will really enjoy this well written novella. The groundwork of the family is laid out succinctly within the first few pages as Maupassant skillfully describes the smouldering resentment Pierre feels for Jean. This resentment festers like a cancer within the family home until those involved can no longer ignore the tension. Pierre is, in many ways, a much more interesting character than Jean. Pierre is "impetuous, intelligent, volatile and stubborn." Jean is by far the nicer person, but he's much less complex. In creating the two main characters, Maupassant shows true genius. One has sympathy with Pierre's feelings--even though he succumbs to less-than-noble jealously, and nastiness. Pierre's torment is all too real, and who can fail to identify with a sibling who is always sick "at hearing endless praises sung" for another. I found the story riveting, and I felt very involved with the characters and the ultimate outcome. "Pierre Et Jean" is a tremendously enjoyable read--displacedhuman
Rating:
Summary: "The vile secret."
Review: Sibling rivalry is at the heart of the novella "Pierre Et Jean" by Guy de Maupassant. Brothers Pierre and Jean are totally different in every way. Pierre Roland, a doctor, is dark, brooding and serious. The younger brother, Jean, a lawyer, is fair-haired, easy going and placid. Mild resentments exist between the two brothers--this is mainly directed from Pierre towards Jean. Pierre has taken some time to decide on a career--whereas Jean had no difficulties whatsoever making up his mind. Consequently, even though there is an age gap of five years between the two brothers, they both arrive at the beginning point of their professional careers at the same time. One evening, the Roland family receives the news that Jean has inherited a fortune--thanks to a Monsieur Marechal, an old friend of the family. In the celebration that follows, Pierre begins to experience the stirrings of jealousy. These feelings are fueled by the attention lavished on Jean by his parents. But in the days that follow the news of the inheritance, Pierre begins to have suspicions about Monsieur Marechal's true relationship with Madame Roland, and Pierre even begins to wonder if Jean is Marechal's son. Fans of Maupassant will really enjoy this well written novella. The groundwork of the family is laid out succinctly within the first few pages as Maupassant skillfully describes the smouldering resentment Pierre feels for Jean. This resentment festers like a cancer within the family home until those involved can no longer ignore the tension. Pierre is, in many ways, a much more interesting character than Jean. Pierre is "impetuous, intelligent, volatile and stubborn." Jean is by far the nicer person, but he's much less complex. In creating the two main characters, Maupassant shows true genius. One has sympathy with Pierre's feelings--even though he succumbs to less-than-noble jealously, and nastiness. Pierre's torment is all too real, and who can fail to identify with a sibling who is always sick "at hearing endless praises sung" for another. I found the story riveting, and I felt very involved with the characters and the ultimate outcome. "Pierre Et Jean" is a tremendously enjoyable read--displacedhuman
Rating: 
Summary: A good story
Review: This book is one of Maupassant's finest works. It concerns the intruiges between two brothers (Pierre et Jean) when Jean inherits a large sum of money from a "familly friend" whom Pierre secretly suspects of being the father of his brother Jean. A great book, and a very interesting look at French society in the mid 1880's.
Rating:
Summary: doubtful paternity
Review: This is a short novel, easy to follow, and enjoyable to read.
Here's what it's about basically. There's these two brothers, right?--as the title indicates. One of them gets a really nice inheritance from a family friend. The other brother gets NOTHING. He's jealous of his brother for his good fortune, and gets suspicious about WHY his brother got the inheritance. He finds out that it's because their mother had an affair with the family friend and his brother was born illegitimately from the affair. He confronts his mother about it and she admits it. That's why his brother got the inheritance, because he was the family friend's true son, it was a shameful secret that the mother kept from her husband (their father). That's all there is to it. It's not a complex book and the story's pretty simple, but the underlying psychology is really interesting and the book is very well-written--very tight and engaging. Maupassant's best novel, I would say. David Rehak
author of "Love and Madness.
Rating:
Summary: doubtful paternity
Review: This is a short novel, easy to follow, and enjoyable to read.
Here's what it's about basically. There's these two brothers, right?--as the title indicates. One of them gets a really nice inheritance from a family friend. The other brother gets NOTHING. He's jealous of his brother for his good fortune, and gets suspicious about WHY his brother got the inheritance. He finds out that it's because their mother had an affair with the family friend and his brother was born illegitimately from the affair. He confronts his mother about it and she admits it. That's why his brother got the inheritance, because he was the family friend's true son, it was a shameful secret that the mother kept from her husband (their father). That's all there is to it. It's not a complex book and the story's pretty simple, but the underlying psychology is really interesting and the book is very well-written--very tight and engaging. Maupassant's best novel, I would say. David Rehak
author of "Love and Madness.
Rating:
Summary: Sibling Rivalry
Review: This short novel just blew me away with intense and detailed characterzations and a plot that builds tension based on the interaction between the members of a family that is nearly rocked by a seemingly positive development. The two grown brothers are established as near opposites in almost every detail and when one inherits money from an old family acquaintance the reason behind their differences becomes the driving force of the story and it's revelation nearly rips the family apart.
A short novel that will stay with you for some time after reading it.
Rating:
Summary: A STUDY OF FAMILY RELATIONS
Review: WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED TO HAPPEN IN A FAMILY WHEN ONE OF ITS MEMBERS INHERITS A LARGE SUM OF MONEY? EVERYBODY IS HAPPIER AND BETTER OFF, RIGHT? WRONG! AS WE SEE FROM THIS STORY, THE WHOLE FABRIC OF THE FAMILY CAN BECOME TORN. YET, BY EMPLOYING SOME SUBTLE TACTICS, MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY CAN FIND A WAY TO STAY TOGETHER. AT A BIG PRICE THOUGH, BECAUSE ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY HAS TO HOLD HIMSELF ALOOF IN ORDER TO PRESERVE FAMILY BOUNDS. A VERY DELICATE STUDY OF THE SUBJECT!
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