Masterpieces of French Literature (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313314841)

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 masterpieces--such 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.

Author: Marilyn S. Severson
ISBN-10: 0313314845
ISBN-13: 9780313314841
Publisher: Greenwood
Language: English
Published: 03/30/2004
Pages: 200
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.48h x 6.36w x 0.74d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 07/01/2004 pg. 83
American Reference Bks Annual 01/01/2005 pg. 514