French and Francophone Literature

How much do you know about French and francophone literature? Take this little quiz to find out.

La Négritude was a literary and ideological movement led by francophone black intellectuals, writers, and politicians. The founders of la Négritude, originally from three different French colonies, each had different ideas about the purpose and styles of la Négritude.

I don't like to read translations, because I believe that something is lost when literature is translated out of its original language. However, bilingual books are a great way to enjoy literature when your language skills aren't quite good enough to read the original. These books are French classics with the original French and English translation, so that you can compare as you read.

Le Petit Prince is the wonderfully touching and creative story of a man who meets an extraordinary boy and relearns what it means to be a child. It is a French classic in children’s literature, as well as an excellent book for beginning-to-intermediate French students and for anyone who is tired of acting like « une grande personne ».

Vol de nuit, one of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's most famous novels, is now available as an audiobook so that you can work on your French listening comprehension while enjoying a classic French novel.

Easy French Poetry Podcast is a French conversation podcast about poetry. This unique project combines listening practice with an analysis of French poetry and is ideal for high-intermediate French students, though any level student from low-intermediate to advanced can benefit from listening to French poetry read by a native French speaker.

Professional and academic journals on French linguistics and literature.

More than 3,000 French books by over 500 authors which are available in the public domain and can therefore be read online or downloaded to your computer.

A list of 288 online French texts.

Huge list of links to French stories and books.

Several dozen online texts.

Biography and writings of one of the fathers of Négritude.

This site offers a great deal of information about the life and work of this renowned French writer.

Huge literature site: recommended books, poetry contest, much more. French only.

Martiniquais writer best known for "Peau noire, masques blancs."

All kinds of information: biographies, unpublished works, texts online... in French or English.

Learn about the great Realist's life and read his works online.

Search for French books at the Bibliothèque nationale de France by author, title, or domain.

Chronology of his life, links to summaries of his poetry and novels, and much more.

An excellent site of Jean de la Fontaine's fables and other writings. Search by title, moral, featured animal, or even length (click "Oeuvre intégrale"). You can also listen to the fables.

Basic information about Maghreb literature and culture.

Simple introduction to North African literature, with some links.

Quite possibly the only literature site you need to visit. Links to great authors writings, biographies, autobiographies, letters... from ClicNet.

Online literary magazine: literary news, book reviews, suggested reading. French only.

Biography and bibliography of this renowned Acadian writer.

The literary movement co-founded by Raymond Queneau, in which the author invents his/her own constraints.

The world's longest palindrome: 1247 words!

Short biography of George Sand with links to some of her works.

Learn about the great existentialist.

Senegalese writer (not to mention former president), one of the Fathers of la Négritude.

A selection of poetry to get you started.

Summary of the life and words of the author of "Le Rouge et le Noir." In English. 

Searchable database of French literature from the Middle Ages. French or English.

A selection of clandestine (read, anti-Christian) texts from the 18th century. English or French.

A small collection of online documents related to theater as well as a theatrical glossary. In French.

A site devoted to Voltaire: links to online texts and lots of information about the Foundation's activities.

The first woman ever inducted into the Académie française.

The life and times of the father of Naturalism.