French Literature
French literature is world-renowned, and it has been translated into hundreds of languages. Many pieces of French work have been made into plays, musicals, movies, and ballet performances.
- Voltaire (1694-1778) -- His most famous saying, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." is actually a misquote. Rather, he stated, "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too."
- Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) -- He is considered one of the founding fathers of French literature. Le Père Goriot, one of his most famous works, is often read in French literature classes as a classic example of realism.
- Victor Hugo (1802-1885) -- He wrote Les Misérables, one of the most famous French musicals of all time, as well as The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
- Jules Verne (1828-1905) -- He wrote many novels that are famous today, such as A Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Around the World in Eighty Days.
- Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) -- He is considered the father of short stories, and his works are read all around the world; as you may recall, we read his story Two Friends in the beginning of the year.
Famous French novels include the following:
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- The Stranger by Albert Camus
- The Count of Monte Cristo & The Three Muskateers by Alexandre Dumas
- Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
- The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
- The Little Nicholas series by Rene Goscinny
- The Childhood Memories series by Marcel Pagnol (the first novel is The Glory of my Father)