- This edition is unique; - The translation is completely original and was carried out for the Ale. Mar. SAS; - All rights reserved. Bel-Ami (Dear Friend) is a novel by French author Guy De Maupassant, first published in 1885. It follows the story of Georges Duroy, who goes from being a poor military officer in France's African colonies, to a journalist, and then on to become one of the most successful men in Paris. There's a lot of corruption along the way, as well as the manipulation of many powerful women.