“The Question of Latin” follows the narrator and his memories of the olden days, when Father Piquedent used to teach him Latin. The two become friends, but soon the teacher reveals that he is not good at anything else but teaching Latin, and thus he is having financial problems. The narrator has to think of a way to help his teacher and get him out of this predicament. A tale that explores the solitude and shortcomings of an academic career, “The Question of Latin” is a rather positive story that shows how true friendship and good deeds seldom remain unrewarded.
Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) was a famous French writer, best known as one of finest practitioners of the short story. Master of style and dramatic narrative, Maupassant’s stories are mainly interested in the relationships between men and women, often found at the crossroads of life. One of his greatest influences was Gustave Flaubert, who introduced him to some of the central names of the time such as Emile Zola, Henry James, and Ivan Turgenev. Some of his best known works include the novels “Bel Ami” and “Une Vie”, more than 300 short stories, travel books, and even an attempt at poetry.
