Bel-Ami is such an amazing book and yes I love to hate Georges Duroy. I found that the character of Oliver in Saltburn really made me think of him. I also found the role of women in his social climbing enterprise to be fascinating.
I'd recommend Machado de Assis' books (from Brazil), he was a realist too and judging by your list here I think you'd enjoy him (if you haven't read it already)
