Masterpieces of French Literature

(Hardback)

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This volume provides a critical introduction to eight landmark novels in 19th- and 20th-century French literature, including The Plague, Madame Bovary, and The Little Prince. Timeless literary masterpiecessuch as Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831) and The Miserables (1862), Flaubert's Madame Bovary (1857), and Camus' The Stranger (1942) and The Plague (1947)have been the subject of copious literary criticism since their publications. This volume has been developed specifically to help students and general readers reach a deeper understanding of eight French novels, enabling them to develop a true appreciation for why the works have been regarded as masterpieces. Lucid yet challenging literary analysis focuses on plot and character development, themes, style, and biographical and historical context. This guide offers a fuller sense of the historical and literary environment in which each author worked. Librarians and educators were consulted in determining which eight novels to include. In addition to those listed above, full treatment is given to Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, and the perennially popular tale The Little Prince. These eight works cover a time period of more than 100 years, reflecting the development of the French novel and the literary movements of this era. An introductory essay provides a concise overview of French literature through the 1800's and early 1900's, identifying additional seminal works beyond those fully discussed here. For readers desiring to pursue further research, an extensive bibliography has been compiled, offering sources for additional novels, criticism, reviews from the time of publication, and biographical information.

Reviews

This is an eclectic guide to eight 19th- and 20th-century French novels chosen for being widely considered timeless masterpieces in France and beyond.Students and general readers seeking a thorough understanding of these influential novels will benefit greatly from this outstanding guide. Highly recommended. * Library Journal, Starred Review *
[M]asterpieces of French Literature is intended as a supplementary guide to aid comprehension and exploration, and not as a substitute for reading the work, nor is it the mechanical dissection and parsing of a Cliff's Notes - the essays here flow with far more depth, insight, and curiosity. Highly recommended for literature and literary studies shelves. * Internet Bookwatch/Midwest Book Review *

Author Bio

MARILYN S. SEVERSON is Professor of European Studies specializing in French in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at Seattle Pacific University. She is the author of James A. Michener: A Critical Companion (Greenwood, 1996).