The following version of this book was used to create the guide: de Maupassant, Guy. Bel Ami. Project Gutenberg, 2003.

When the novel begins, Georges Duroy is broke. While on a walk one day, he runs into his old comrade Charles Forestier. Forestier works for a journal called La Vie Francaise and is a very prosperous man. He invites Georges over for lunch, where Georges is introduced to the journal’s manager M. Walter. Among the other guests are Charles’ wife Madeleine, Clotilde de Marelle and her little daughter Laurine, M. Walter’s wife Virginie, and a couple writers.

Georges gets hired as a journalist for La Vie Francaise, marking his initiation into Parisian high society. Madeleine helps him write his articles and the two become good friends. Georges successfully seduces Clotilde de Marelle. She gets them an apartment for their trysts. Georges receives some harsh criticisms in La Vie Francaise’s rivaling journal, La Plume. M. Walter urges him to challenge the writer to a duel. Both Georges and the other writer escape the duel unscathed.

Meanwhile, Forestier is sick. Madeleine brings him to Cannes in the hopes of recovering. Shortly after, she sends for Georges to keep her company. Forestier dies, and Georges proposes to Madeleine.

Back in Paris, Madeleine accepts Georges’ proposal. The two visit Georges’ parents in Canteleu for a night. Georges takes on Forestier’s role at the journal and becomes jealous of the dead man. Count de Vaudrec comes to dine once a week. Madeleine knows him through her mother, who was a governess in Vaudrec’s house. Madeleine suspects that Vaudrec is her father but she keeps this knowledge to herself.

Madeleine points out to Georges one day that Virginie Walter has a crush on him. He takes advantage of this knowledge and professes to love Virginie one day after escorting her to a fencing party. After meeting her at a church, and then again at a park, she succumbs to his charms and confesses that she loves him. Virginie becomes obsessed with Georges and he soon grows tired of her. He prefers Clotilde, his other mistress. After weeks of ignoring Virginie, he agrees to meet her one day at his shared apartment with Clotilde. She tells him that her husband and the minister of foreign affairs, Laroche-Mathieu, are in on a political scoop that will gain them millions through the stock market. Georges is furious that the men tried to conceal this from him. Right after Virginie leaves, Clotilde comes over. She notices a black hair on Georges’ vest and realizes that he has another mistress. She is heartbroken.

Vaudrec dies of an attack of gout. Madeleine is devastated. Vaudrec leaves all his money and property to Madeleine. Georges demands half of it and Madeleine is forced to give him half. They are now well off.

In the meantime, M. Walter has grown rich through the stock market. He hosts a party at his house one day, and Georges is struck by Walter’s daughter Suzanne’s beauty. He makes Suzanne promise not to marry anyone without first telling him. Georges tells Virginie that they must be friends only, not lovers. She consents. Georges grows close to the Walter family that winter and dines with them frequently. Madeleine always stays home. One day, Georges has her followed and discovers her in bed with Laroche-Mathieu. He divorces her.

One day while out in the country, Georges proposes to Suzanne. They run away, breaking Virginie’s heart and disgracing their entire family. M. Walter is forced to consent to the marriage and the young couple has a wedding in Paris. Virginie sobs during the wedding. Georges and Clotilde exchange happy goodbyes.