The Necklace cover art

The Necklace

 Preview
Try for $0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Necklace

Written by: Guy de Maupassant
Narrated by: Anne Hancock
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $9.43

Buy Now for $9.43

About this listen

Mathilde Loisel, the lowly born wife of a clerk, has always felt she was meant for greater things. She imagines beautiful gowns, glittering parties, a home of opulence, and a life of comfort. Her only wish is to be flattered and admired, and she is miserable that she will never know that life.

But out of the blue, her husband comes home with an invitation to a ball. She buys a new dress but mourns her lack of jewels. But wait! She has a wealthy friend who will lend her something for the evening, and she selects a beautiful diamond necklace as her only adornment. The evening is a success. She is the center of attention, and she's achieved her greatest ambition. Then calamity strikes.

Guy de Maupassant's heroine, looking back on her life after that fateful night, muses, "How strange and changeful is life! How small a thing is needed to make or ruin us!"

Public Domain (P)2016 Anne Hancock Anthologies & Short Stories Classics Fiction Marriage Short Story
All stars
Most relevant  
I thoroughly enjoyed this classic short story. Being transported to 19th century France via this story was a welcomed break from daily life :)

Brief Reprieve from Reality

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.