It is no secret that French literature is one of the oldest and richest in Europe. Below Leyla Budaeva talk about some key works created inXIXcentury.

1. Victor Hugo, "Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris» (1831)

"You think you're unhappy! Alas! You don't know what misfortune is."

The time when novels like this were written was the age of innocence. Beauty Esmeralda, sufferer Quasimodo, sinister archdeacon - in everything famous characters Hugos have so much purity/nobility/violence that they seem to be the perfect quintessence of these concepts. The intensity of their passions is strong and terrible, but still naive. Happiness is to read a book in youth and believe it without reasoning.

But there is something that is noticed only with age. The work is an amazing example of the literature of the era of romanticism with its outstanding characters and violent feelings, but all this fades into the background when Hugo writes about his main character - Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris. He is a revelation embodied in metal and stone, inviolable and eternal. The writer's reflections on the nature of architecture and printing, his attentive look at the medieval city are as important components of the novel as the anxieties and joys of the charming street dancer Esmeralda.

Today, the novel may seem somewhat archaic, but you can’t refuse it in any way in beauty and genuine humanity.

2. Honore de Balzac, Woman of Thirty (1842)

“To reason where you need to feel is the property of a wingless soul”

The life story of Julie d'Aiglemont is a story of mistakes made for the sake of an indefatigable imagination and blind stubbornness. Indulging her own enthusiasm, this chaste and not at all stupid woman ruined her beloved man - absurdly, thoughtlessly, senselessly.

Balzac's novels are always more than romances. The plot in them, in general, is secondary - the characters are not important either. Its main characters are morals. Mores that dictate the way of thinking and way of life; morals, equally capable of poisoning a pure soul and whitewashing the very embodiment of vice.

The book is ambiguous. She is witty, sometimes fantastic, but always accurate and truthful in depicting movements. human soul. Balzac does not moralize, does not accuse or justify. He only tells with deep respect about a life lived according to the dictates of a heart that has known joy and pain in equal measure.

3. Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary (1857)

“... why did that on which she tried to rely instantly decay?”

Today it is one of the key novels of the world fiction, but in 1857 he was considered immoral and the author was brought to trial.

Exhausted by a dull life and fruitless fantasies of a better life, Emma Bovary cheats on her husband, spends money on empty whims, gets confused in her own lies and, unable to pay off her debts, takes poison.

How to judge her? Before us is not a fatal femme fatale, but a sentimental young woman capable of reveling in feelings to self-forgetfulness. She feels sorry for herself. Is it fair to live in the provinces, be the wife of a mediocre doctor and lead the life of a middle-class bourgeois?

She craves luxury and beauty - and this is understandable. But, having neither one nor the other, he withdraws into himself, gets angry and falls into despondency. She is pretty - no wonder they pay attention to her. But neither the husband nor the lovers see, and do not want to see who she really is - an enthusiastic and ingenuous boarder who wants to hand herself over to her beloved and run with him to the ends of the world. She is not stupid, but she hardly knows what it is real life. The whole world is enclosed in the object of her affection, the rest are conventions, which are better to close your eyes to. A terrible denouement is natural and predetermined. It couldn't be otherwise.

The book is stylistically verified - Flaubert has always been famous for his ability to choose words perfectly. And placing the main accents, the writer over and over again reminds of one thing: "do not judge."

4. Anatole France, Thais (1890)

"Be careful not to offend Venus - her revenge is terrible"

A novel on the theme of the legend about the conversion to Christianity of the famous Alexandrian courtesan Thais. In 1890, the book caused open discontent and was recognized as anti-clerical. Why? Because France contrasted the idea of ​​religious passion with carnal passion and created a genuine drama.

The righteous Paphnutius decides to turn Thais away from vice and convinces her to leave pagan Alexandria in order to retire to a convent. What drives them? Unshakable faith? Yes, he thinks. But what is the reason for his jealousy and burning anxiety? He knows this woman - and for many years he loves her, not daring to admit it to himself. The painful struggle of his will with feeling, that is, with Venus (the mythical goddess of love and beauty), determines the philosophical side of the novel.

The fact that on the way to Thais, Pafnuty is guided not only by convictions, but also by passion, in which he is not aware of himself, is obvious from the first pages. It is all the more painful to watch how his world, once whole and clear, crumbles to dust. After all, mistaking lust for a thirst to save a lost soul, he deceived himself - and for this he was punished.

Frans brilliantly recreated the aesthetics of the late ancient world and the way of life of Christians in the first centuries of our era. And this is the undeniable charm and value of the book.

5. Prosper Merimee, short stories

"... we find some solace for self-esteem, considering our weakness from the height of our pride"

I will conclude the selection with a collection of short prose. "Venus of Ill", "Double Error", "Etruscan Vase" - elegant sketches of feelings in all their vulnerability, spontaneity and novelty. Little tragedies, where the retribution for an unfortunate mistake or desperate self-deception will be own life- ridiculous, simple and inevitable ... In the story "Lokis" the count in love will turn out to be a fierce beast - why not the story of beauty and the beast, just the other way around? Merimee's well-aimed, concise prose gives goosebumps, but the author's cold irony quickly comes to the rescue. The truth of human characters debunks illusions, and the mind enlightens feelings, so reading these short stories is just right.

Famous French writers have made an invaluable contribution to world literature. From the existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre to commentaries on Flaubert's society, France is well known for bringing examples of literary geniuses to the world. Thanks to the many famous sayings who quote the masters of literature from France, there is a high probability that you are very familiar with, or at least heard of, the works French literature.

Over the centuries, many great literary works appeared in France. While this list is hardly comprehensive, it contains some of the greatest literary masters that have ever lived. Most likely you have read or at least heard about these famous French writers.

Honoré de Balzac, 1799-1850

Balzac is a French writer and playwright. One of his most famous works human comedy”, became his first real taste of success in literary world. In fact, his personal life has become more of trying and failing than real success. He is considered by many literary critics to be one of the "founding fathers" of realism because The Human Comedy was a commentary on all aspects of life. This is a collection of all the works he wrote under his own name. Father Goriot is often cited in French literature courses as a classic example of realism. The story of King Lear, set in 1820s Paris, Père Goriot is a Balzacian reflection of a money-loving society.

Samuel Beckett, 1906-1989

Samuel Beckett is actually Irish, however, he is in for the most part wrote in French because he lived in Paris, having moved there in 1937. He is considered the last great modernist and some argue that he is the first postmodernist. Particularly outstanding in its personal life was in the French Resistance during World War II when it was under German occupation. Although Beckett has published extensively, he is best known for his theater of the absurd, depicted in the play En attendant Godot (Waiting for Godot).

Cyrano de Bergerac, 1619-1655

Cyrano de Bergerac is best known for a play that was written about him by Rostand called Cyrano de Bergerac. The play was staged and made into films many times. The plot is well known: Cyrano loves Roxanne, but stops courting her in order to read his poems to her on behalf of his not so eloquent friend. Rostand most likely embellishes the real characteristics of de Bergerac's life, although he really was a phenomenal swordsman and a delightful poet.

It can be said that his poetry is better known than Rostand's play. According to the descriptions, he had an extremely large nose which he was very proud of.

Albert Camus, 1913-1960

Albert Camus - Algerian-born author who received Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957. He was the first African to achieve this and the second youngest writer in literary history. Despite being associated with existentialism, Camus rejects any labels. His most famous two absurd novels: L "Étranger (The Stranger) and Le Mythe de Sisyphe (The Myth of Sisyphus). He was perhaps best known as a philosopher and his work reflects the life of that time. In fact, he wanted to become football player, but contracted tuberculosis at the age of 17 and was bedridden for an extended period of time.

Victor Hugo, 1802-1885

Victor Hugo would describe himself first and foremost as a humanist who used literature to describe the terms of human life and the injustices of society. Both of these themes are easily seen in two of his most famous works: Les misèrables (Les Misérables), and Notre-Dame de Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral is also known by its popular name - The Hunchback of Notre Dame).

Alexandre Dumas, father 1802-1870

Alexandre Dumas is considered the most readable author in French history. He is known for his historical novels that describe the dangerous adventures of heroes. Dumas was prolific in writing and many of his stories are still retold today:
Three Musketeers
Count of Montecristo
Man in iron mask

1821-1880

His first published novel, Madame Bovary, is perhaps his most famous work. It was originally published as a series of novels, and the French authorities filed a lawsuit against Flaubert for immorality.

Jules Verne, 1828-1905

Jules Verne is especially famous because he was one of the first authors who wrote science fiction. Many literary critics even consider him one of the founding fathers of the genre. He wrote many novels, here are some of the most famous:
twenty thousand leagues under the sea
Journey to the center of the earth
Around the world in 80 Days

Other French writers

molière
Emile Zola
Stendhal
George Sand
Musset
Marcel Proust
Rostand
Jean-Paul Sartre
Madame de Scudery
Stendhal
Sully Prudhomme
Anatole France
Simone de Beauvoir
Charles Baudelaire
Voltaire

In France, literature has been, and continues to be, the driving force behind philosophy. Paris is fertile ground for new ideas, philosophies and movements that the world has ever seen.

Notable French writers

Famous French writers have made an invaluable contribution to the world
literature. From the existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre to comments on
Flaubert society, France is well known for the phenomenon of the world of examples
literary geniuses. Thanks to the many well-known sayings that
quote the masters of literature from France, there is a high probability
that you are very familiar with, or at least have heard about
works of French literature.

Over the centuries, many great literary works have appeared
in France. While this list is hardly comprehensive, it contains some
of the greatest literary masters who ever lived. Quicker
everything you have read or at least heard about these famous French
writers.

Honoré de Balzac, 1799-1850

Balzac is a French writer and playwright. One of his most famous
works "The Human Comedy", was his first real taste of success in
literary world. In fact, his personal life has become more of an attempt
try something and fail than real success. He, by
considered by many literary critics to be one of the
"founding fathers" of realism, because The Human Comedy was
commentary on all aspects of life. This is a collection of all the works that he
wrote under his own name. Father Goriot is often cited in courses
French literature as a classic example of realism. History of the King
Lear, which took place in the 1820s in Paris, the book "Father Goriot" is
A Balzacian reflection of a society that loves money.

Samuel Beckett, 1906-1989

Samuel Beckett is actually Irish, however, he mostly wrote
in French because he lived in Paris, having moved there in 1937. He
is considered the last great modernist and some argue that he is -
first postmodernist. Particularly prominent in his personal life was
service in the French Resistance during World War II,
when it was under German occupation. Although Beckett has published extensively,
he is most of all his theater of the absurd, depicted in the play En attendant
Godot (Waiting for Godot).

Cyrano de Bergerac, 1619-1655

Cyrano de Bergerac is best known for the play that was
written about him by Rostand under the title "Cyrano de Bergerac". play
staged and filmed on it many times. The plot is familiar: Cyrano
loves Roxana, but stops courting her so that on behalf of her not
such an eloquent friend to read her his poems. Rostand most likely
embellishes the real characteristics of de Bergerac's life, although he
really was a phenomenal swordsman and a delightful poet.
It can be said that his poetry is better known than Rostand's play. By
he was described as having an extremely large nose which he was very proud of.

Albert Camus, 1913-1960

Albert Camus - Algerian-born author who received
Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957. He was the first African
who achieved this, and the second youngest writer in history
literature. Despite being associated with existentialism, Camus
rejects any labels. His most famous two novels of the absurd are:
L "Étranger (Stranger) and Le Mythe de Sisyphe (The myth of Sisyphus). He was,
perhaps best known as a philosopher and his work - mapping
life of that time. In fact, he wanted to become a football player, but
contracted tuberculosis at the age of 17 and was bedridden in
over a long period of time.

Victor Hugo, 1802-1885

Victor Hugo would describe himself primarily as a humanist who used
literature to describe the terms of human life and injustice
society. Both of these themes are easily seen in two of his most famous
works: Les misèrables (Les Misérables), and Notre-Dame de Paris (Cathedral
Notre Dame is also known by its popular name - The Hunchback of
Notre Dame).

Alexandre Dumas, father 1802-1870

Alexandre Dumas is considered the most widely read author in French history.
He is known for his historical novels that describe dangerous
adventures of heroes. Dumas was prolific in writing and many of his
stories are retold today:
Three Musketeers
Count of Montecristo
The Man in the Iron Mask
The Nutcracker (made famous by Tchaikovsky's ballet version)

Gustave Flaubert 1821-1880

His first published novel, Madame Bovary, is perhaps the most
famous for his work. It was originally published as a series
novel, and the French authorities filed a lawsuit against Flaubert for
immorality.

Jules Verne 1828-1905

Jules Verne is especially famous because he was one of the first authors,
who wrote science fiction. Many literary critics even consider
him one of the founding fathers of the genre. He wrote many novels
some of the better known:
twenty thousand leagues under the sea
Journey to the center of the earth
Around the world in 80 Days

Other French writers

There are many more other great French writers:

molière
Emile Zola
Stendhal
George Sand
Musset
Marcel Proust
Rostand
Jean-Paul Sartre
Madame de Scudery
Stendhal
Sully Prudhomme
Anatole France
Simone de Beauvoir
Charles Baudelaire
Voltaire

In France, literature has been, and continues to be, the driving force behind philosophy.
Paris is fertile ground for new ideas, philosophies and movements that
ever seen the world.

Culture and Education

Mikhailov, A.D. Some traits French Renaissance // LITERATURE Renaissance and problems of world literature. M.: "Science", 1967
Reizov B.G. French novel XIX century. M., " graduate School", 1977
History of French literature. M .: "Higher School", 1987
Darcos X. Histoire de la literature française. P., Hachette Livre, 1992
Meilakh M.B. Medieval Provençal biographies and the courtly culture of the troubadours // Lives of Troubadours. M.: "Science", 1993
French Literature. 19451990. M.: Heritage, 1995
Karelsky A.V. Metamorphoses of Orpheus: Conversations on the History of Western Literature. Issue. 1: French literature XIX century. M.: Russian. state humanit. university, 1998
Western European theater from the Renaissance to the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. Moscow: RGGU, 2001
Meletinsky E.M. From myth to literature. The course of lectures "Theory of myth and historical poetics» . M.: Russian. state humanit. university, 2001
Zenkin S.N. French romanticism and the idea of ​​culture. Unnaturalness, plurality and relativity in literature. M.: Russian. state humanit. university, 2002
Kosikov G.K. François Villon// Villon F. Poems: Collection. M.: OAO Publishing house "Rainbow", 2002
Zumtor P. Experience in the construction of medieval poetics. St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2003

Find " FRENCH LITERATURE" on the

Hi all! I came across a list of the 10 best French novels. To be honest, I didn’t get along with the French, so I’ll ask the connoisseurs - how do you like the list that you read / didn’t read from it, what would you add / remove from it?

1. Antoine de Saint-Exupery - "The Little Prince"

Most famous work Antoine de Saint-Exupery with author's drawings. A wise and “humane” tale-parable, which simply and heartfeltly speaks of the most important things: friendship and love, duty and fidelity, beauty and intolerance to evil.

“We all come from childhood,” the great Frenchman reminds us and introduces us to the most mysterious and touching hero of world literature.

2. Alexandre Dumas - The Count of Monte Cristo

The plot of the novel was drawn by Alexandre Dumas from the archives of the Parisian police. real life François Picot, under the pen of a brilliant master of the historical-adventure genre, turned into a fascinating story about Edmond Dantes, a prisoner of the Chateau d'If. After a daring escape, he returns to native city to do justice - to take revenge on those who ruined his life.

3. Gustave Flaubert - Madame Bovary

The main character - Emma Bovary - suffers from the inability to fulfill her dreams of a brilliant, secular life full of romantic passions. Instead, she is forced to drag out the monotonous existence of the wife of a poor provincial doctor. The oppressive atmosphere of the outback suffocates Emma, ​​but all her attempts to break out of the bleak world are doomed to failure: a boring husband cannot satisfy his wife's needs, and her outwardly romantic and attractive lovers are actually self-centered and cruel. Is there a way out of life's impasse?..

4. Gaston Leroux - The Phantom of the Opera

“The Phantom of the Opera really existed” - one of the most sensational French novels is dedicated to the proof of this thesis turn XIX-XX centuries. It belongs to the pen of Gaston Leroux, the master of the police novel, the author of the famous "Secrets of the Yellow Room", "The Fragrance of the Lady in Black". From the first to last page Leroux keeps the reader in suspense.

5. Guy De Maupassant - "Dear friend"

Guy de Maupassant is often called the master of erotic prose. But the novel "Dear Friend" (1885) goes beyond this genre. The story of the career of an ordinary seducer and life-burner Georges Duroy, developing in the spirit of an adventure novel, becomes a symbolic reflection of the spiritual impoverishment of the hero and society.

6. Simone De Beauvoir - "Second Sex"

Two volumes of the book "The Second Sex" French writer Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) - "a born philosopher", according to her husband J.-P. Sartre - are still considered the most complete historical and philosophical study of the whole complex of problems associated with a woman. What is the “female lot”, what is behind the concept of “natural purpose of sex”, how and why the position of a woman in this world differs from the position of a man, is a woman capable in principle of being a full-fledged person, and if so, under what conditions, what circumstances limit the freedom of women and how to overcome them.

7. Cholerlo de Laclos - "Dangerous Liaisons"

"Dangerous Liaisons" - one of the most striking novels of the XVIII century - the only book of Choderlos de Laclos, a French artillery officer. Heroes erotic novel Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil start a sophisticated intrigue, wanting to take revenge on their opponents. Having developed a cunning strategy and tactics of seducing the young girl Cecile de Volange, they skillfully play on human weaknesses and shortcomings.

8. Charles Baudelaire - "Flowers of Evil"

Among the masters of world culture, the name of Charles Baudelaire burns like a bright star. This book includes the collection of the poet "Flowers of Evil", which made his name famous, and the brilliant essay "School of the Pagans". The book is preceded by an article by the remarkable Russian poet Nikolai Gumilyov, and a rarely published essay on Baudelaire by the outstanding French poet and thinker Paul Valery concludes the book.

9. Stendhal - "Parma monastery"

The novel written by Stendhal in just 52 days received world recognition. Dynamism of action, intriguing course of events, dramatic denouement in combination with the image strong characters, capable of anything for the sake of love, are the key moments of the work that do not cease to excite the reader until the last lines. The fate of Fabrizio, the protagonist of the novel, freedom-loving young man, is filled with unexpected ups and downs taking place during the historical turning point in Italy in early XIX century.

10. André Gide - "The Counterfeiters"

A novel that is significant both for the work of André Gide and for French literature of the first half of the 20th century in general. A novel that largely predicted the motives that later became the main ones in the work of the existentialists. The intricate relationships of three families - representatives of the big bourgeoisie, united by crime, vice and a labyrinth of self-destructive passions, become the background for the story of the growing up of two young men - two childhood friends, each of whom will have to go through his own, very difficult school of "education of feelings".