This is not a story

by Denis Diderot

"This is not a story" by Denis Diderot is a work written in 1772. The piece contains two contrasting tales of devotion and betrayal. In the first, a man spends years amassing fortune for a woman who exploits his absence. In the second, a woman sacrifices everything for a man who ultimately abandons her when she's no longer useful. Through these paired narratives, Diderot explores the complexities of human character and the dangers of judging people too quickly.