Bel-AmiBel-Ami
Score Classic
What it's about
Georges Duroy, a former soldier with almost no money, runs into an old army comrade in Paris who opens the door to journalism, and he climbs to the top through a corrupt press and the wealthy, powerful women he seduces.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read.
You'll love it if you liked
Madame Bovary
Vanity Fair
The Picture of Dorian GrayGood to know
It's a classic about an unrepentant social climber.
By the numbers
- Readers25 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller17 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is Bel-Ami worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,668 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 58.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Bel-Ami about?
Georges Duroy, a former soldier with almost no money, runs into an old army comrade in Paris who opens the door to journalism, and he climbs to the top through a corrupt press and the wealthy, powerful women he seduces.
How long does it take to read Bel-Ami?
About 10 hours (416 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Bel-Ami?
If you liked it, try Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray or The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.