The Tale of Boule de Suif : A reimagining of Guy de Maupassant's Boule de Suif (1880)

In this fable, Admiral Schnauzer, Mr Bulldog, and Saint Bernard gather in a carriage bound for Morrmandie. Also in the carriage are Dogue de Bordeaux and his wife Madame de Papillon, along with two pale poodles chewing on their respective rosaries.


They are fleeing the wars of humans.


The mood is pleasant until the carriage door opens and a cat looks in. “On your way to Meowmandie?” she asks.


The Tale of Boule de Suif is based on the short story “Boule de Suif” by Guy de Maupassant.


In the original, nine passengers are fleeing the hardships of war. Each person represents a certain social class, moral stance, or ideology of 1870s France.


It turns out that the one at the very bottom of the social ladder is the best at fulfilling the era's ideals of patriotism and self-sacrifice. Yet, when she herself needs help, the group turns their backs on her.


Reimagined classics are concentrated literature, where great narratives are distilled to their existential core and born anew. Each story carries the cadence of the original, while firmly standing on its own feet.


Evil things happen in reality, which is why they exist in literature as well. It is how we encounter dilemmas, immerse ourselves in the psyches of others, and are confronted with our own moral compass.


We all have a Boule de Suif within us – and beside us.