"People talked of a colossal wolf with gray fur, almost white, who had eaten two children, gnawed off a woman's arm..."A werewolf terrorises locals, devouring livestock and killing children, but brothers Jean and François are determined to find and kill the beast once and for all.Will the hunters become the hunted?

Deep dive into this 'Classic Werewolf Collection' from the very best fantasy, adventure, and literary fiction writers.From the creator of 'The Three Musketeers', Alexandre Dumas, to Frank Powell, author of the first pioneering science-fiction novel about lost worlds and the mastermind of the short story himself, Guy de Maupassant, this unmissable collection paints a dark and dramatic anthology of twilight's most frightening foe.You'll encounter the poetic prose of Marie de ...

Set during the hunting season, the Chateau Baneville is peopled with guests waiting for the weather to improve.After half-heartedly playing board games, they tell stories. None is so shocking as the one told by Genevieve and the boy who loved her in her youth.With allusions to mental illness and obsession, this is a dark romantic tale, sure to promote some heated conversation.Touching on similar themes as Robert Redford's 'Ordinary People,' 'A Widow' is a tragic lov...

With all the wistful romance of 'The Remains of the Day,' (starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson), 'Alexandre' tells the story of a servant and his mistress, Madame Marambelle.Now wheelchair-bound, Madame Marambelle is reliant on Alexandre to get out and about. On one of their sojourns, they discuss her tyrannical husband, with Alexandre telling some uncomfortable home truths.However, he also has a secret of his own, and now seems as good a time as any to get it out in...

Have you ever experienced a hot air balloon ride?This short story describes a trip from Paris to Belgium taken by the popular French author Guy de Maupassant. Describing in detail every sight and sound, he takes readers on a balloon ride like no other.The three crew members and three passengers watch the sunset and moonrise and experience the threat of a looming storm. Views of Paris and the beautiful French and Belgian countryside below are also eloquently brought to life....

Later made into a film, starring Vincent Price, 'The Diary of a Madman' is a dark and disturbing short story.In just three pages, Maupassant introduces us to an upright magistrate who has just condemned a prisoner, Blondel, to death.Blondel is convicted of prolicide, and the magistrate wants to work out why he's committed this terrible crime. Through his diary, we see how the idea takes root and becomes something much more sinister...A gripping read that's as releva...

Laying the foundations for films such as 'Mother and Child,' starring Naomi Watts and Samuel L Jackson, 'Abandoned' packs a lot into a short space.As a younger woman, Madame de Cadour gave birth to an illegitimate son. She and her then-lover, Henri put the child up for adoption, but she has wondered about him ever since.40 years later, she decides to try and find him with Henri's help, and her husband is oblivious to the whole thing.Will Madame de Cadour and Henri f...

Money doesn't buy happiness. But can it buy love?Two families live in the Norman countryside. Neither of them have any money. Both of them are happy, healthy, and fulfilled. A wealthy couple walks past regularly, marveling at the way the children play outside. Childless themselves, this sight makes them incredibly emotional. So they make the families an offer that neither of them can refuse, but will they accept?This social drama is perfect for fans of J.B Priestley's 'An I...

Despite its title. 'The Effeminates' has nothing to do with sexuality.Instead, it's a satire on the fickle natures of Parisians and those who work in the Chamber of Deputies (a French parliamentary body).According to Maupassant's observations, these 'man-girls' are a bane of society, forever changing their minds, following their whimsies, and plotting behind the backs of even their closest friends.An interesting psychological snapshot of 19th Century France, 'The Ef...

It is often the most humble men that are the most dangerous.Central Corsica is dangerous. There is no question about that. Despite its beautiful scenery, the area is rife with bandits, mongrels, and crime. Whilst money is important, secrets are much more valuable. The quietest, almost silent villager is a source of interest for the entire of Corsica - they know he has secrets. But are they truly ready to find out who he really is?This dynamic tale is an entertaining introdu...

Set in the Swiss Alps, 'The Inn' could almost be the template for 'The Shining,' starring Jack Nicholson.When winter sets in, the owners of the eponymous inn decide to go see the snow out in the nearby valley. Behind them, they leave the caretaker, Gaspard, Ulrich, and Sam the dog.However, when Ulrich leaves to go hunting and doesn't come back, Gaspard is left all alone...A haunting tale, swathed in snow and with a brooding, unsettling atmosphere, this is a perfect ...

Laying the foundations for films, such as 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' starring Jack Nicholson, 'Bertha' is a study on mental illness.While the narrator visits his old friend, Dr Bonnet, the doctor asks him to wait while he visits a patient. The patient is Bertha, a woman who was once young and beautiful but with no way of communicating with the outside world.Rightly or wrongly, Dr Bonnet subjects her to a series of experiments before her family decides there's an ans...