Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
A Piece of String  By  cover art

A Piece of String

By: Guy de Maupassant
Narrated by: Cindy Hardin Killavey
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $1.43

Buy for $1.43

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Editorial reviews

In "A Piece of String", 19th-century French writer Guy de Maupassant demonstrates why he’s acclaimed as one of the first great masters of the short story.

Maître Hauchecorne sees a piece of string on the ground in the town of Goderville. Frugal like a "true Norman", he picks it up. Soon afterwards, he is accused of taking a lost pocketbook by someone who saw him picking up the string. To his great distress, no one believes his (true) story.

Cindy Hardin Killavey delivers a steady, understated performance in this richly described tale of guilt, innocence, and trial by public opinion.

Publisher's summary

Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer. He is considered one of the fathers of the modern short story. As a protégé of Flaubert, his short stories are characterized by their economy of style and their efficient effortless resolution.

A Piece of String is one of his most famous stories and deals in a very touching way with perception versus reality.

Public Domain (P)1978 Jimcin Recordings

What listeners say about A Piece of String

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Story, troublesome narration

I had never read any Guy de Maupassant, and I enjoyed this story. This is a pretty good short story with an interesting idea and characterization but the narration was a bit high pitched. I had to equalize to reduce the high frequencies which were a bit grating. Not worth a credit, but worth the one buck cash price.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful