Books from France
223 popular french books
Travel the world without leaving your chair.
The target of the Read Around The World Challenge is to read at least one book written by an author from each and every country in the world.
All books that are listed here as part of the "Read Around Europe Challenge" were written by authors from France.
Find a great book for the next part of your reading journey around the world from this book list. The following popular books have been recommended so far.
191.
The Princess of Cleves by Madame de La Fayette (Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne) EN
Description:
Perhaps one of the greatest works of French literature is Madame de Lafayette's The Princess of Cleves, often described as the first of all "modern" novels. This classic translation, with an introduction, by the late English novelist and biographer Nancy Mitford, was first brought out in 1951 by New Directions. It is now made available as a New Directions Paperbook. Published in 1678 and written by Marie Madeleine Roche de la Vergne, Countess de Lafayette - a Parisian lady of fashion and great wit, who probably received help from her friend the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, author of the famous Max... continue
192.
193.
The Readers' Room by Antoine Laurain
Description:
A Parisian editor is drawn into a murder investigation when an unknown thriller author is shortlisted for a prize.
194.
The Red and the Black by Stendhal EN
Description:
Charts the rise and fall of an ambitious young social climber in a cruel, monarchical society Handsome, ambitious Julien Sorel is determined to rise above his humble provincial origins. Soon realizing that success can only be achieved by adopting the subtle code of hypocrisy by which society operates, he begins to achieve advancement through deceit and self-interest. His triumphant career takes him into the heart of glamorous Parisian society, along the way conquering the gentle, married Madame de Rênal, and the haughty Mathilde. But then Julien commits an unexpected, devastating crime—and bri... continue
195.
The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain EN
Description:
"Laurain presents the story as if it were reportage, but with the confidence of an age-old storyteller."—San Francisco Book Review "Laurain's gentle, satirical humor remind this reviewer of Jacques Tati's classic films, and, no, you don't have to know French politics to enjoy this charming novel. Fans of Muriel Barbery'sThe Elegance of the Hedgehog will want this."—Library Journal "A hymn to la vie Parisienne . . . enjoy it for its fabulistic narrative, and the way it teeters pleasantly on the edge of Gallic whimsy."—The Guardian Heroic bookseller Laurent Letellier comes across an abandoned ha... continue
196.
The Reunion by Guillaume Musso EN
Description:
French Riviera, Winter 1992. Beautiful, reckless 19-year-old Vinca Rockwell runs away with Alexis, her philosophy teacher. No one will ever see them again. French Riviera, Spring 2017. Formerly inseparable, Thomas, Maxime and Fanny - Vinca's best friends - have not spoken in twenty-five years. But when they receive an invitation to their school's reunion, they know they must go back one final time. Because there is a body buried in that school. And they're the ones who put it there.
197.
The Seventh Function of Language : A Novel by Laurent Binet EN
Description:
From the prizewinning author of HHhH, “the most insolent novel of the year” (L’Express) Paris, 1980. The literary critic Roland Barthes dies—struck by a laundry van—after lunch with the presidential candidate François Mitterand. The world of letters mourns a tragic accident. But what if it wasn’t an accident at all? What if Barthes was . . . murdered? In The Seventh Function of Language, Laurent Binet spins a madcap secret history of the French intelligentsia, starring such luminaries as Jacques Derrida, Umberto Eco, Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, and Julia Kristeva—as well as... continue
198.
The Suicide Shop by Jean Teulé EN
Description:
With the twenty-first century just a distant memory and the world in environmental chaos, many people have lost the will to live. Business is brisk at The Suicide Shop. Run by the Tuvache family, the shop offers a variety of ways to end it all, with something to fit every budget. The Tuvaches go mournfully about their business until the youngest member of the family threatens to destroy their contented misery by confronting them with something they've never encountered before: a love of life. Jean Teulé lives in the Marais with his companion, the French film actress Miou-Miou.
199.
The Three Evangelists by Fred Vargas EN
Description:
Sophia Siméonidis, A Greek Opera Singer, Wakes Up One Morning To Discover That A Tree Has Appeared Overnight In The Garden Of Her Paris House. Intrigued And Unnerved, She Turns To Her Neighbours: Vandoosler, An Ex-Cop Fired From The Police For Having Helped A Murderer To Escape, And Three Impecunious Historians, Mathias, Marc And Lucien - The Three Evangelists. They Agree - Both Because They Need The Money And Out Of Sheer Curiosity - To Dig Around The Tree And See If Something Has Been Buried There. They Find Nothing But Soil. A Few Weeks Later, Sophia Disappears And Nobody Worries Too Much U... continue
200.
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas EN
Description:
The Three Musketeers By Alexandre DumasThe Three Musketeers (French: Les Trois Mousquetaires) is a historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is in the swashbuckler genre, which has heroic, chivalrous swordsmen who fight for justice.Set between 1625 and 1628, it recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan (a character based on Charles de Batz-Castelmore d'Artagnan) after he leaves home to travel to Paris, hoping to join the Musketeers of the Guard. Although d'Artagnan is not able to join this elite corps immediately, he is befriended by the thre... continue