"Bel-Ami" is a novel written by French author Guy de Maupassant, first published in 1885. The story follows Georges Duroy, a young man who rises from poverty to wealth and influence in Paris through his charm and manipulation of powerful women. The novel explores themes of ambition, social climbing, and the moral ambiguities of success. Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century Paris, "Bel-Ami" provides a critical look at the social and political landscape of the time. Duroy's relationships with various women, including Madeleine Forestier and Clotilde de Marelle, highlight the complexities of love and power in a patriarchal society.