French literature is one of the treasuries of world culture. It deserves to be read in all countries and in all centuries. Problems raised in their works French writers, have always worried people, and there will never come a time when they will leave the reader indifferent. Epochs, historical settings, costumes of characters change, but passions, the essence of relationships between men and women, their happiness and suffering remain unchanged. The tradition of the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was continued by modern French writers and literary figures of the 20th century.

Commonality of Russian and French literary schools

What do we know about European wordsmiths in the relatively recent past? Of course, many countries have made a significant contribution to the overall cultural heritage. Wonderful books Britain, Germany, Austria, and Spain also wrote, but in terms of the number of outstanding works, the first places are, of course, occupied by Russian and French writers. The list of them (both books and authors) is truly huge. It’s no wonder that there are multiple publications, there are many readers, and today, in the age of the Internet, the list of film adaptations is also impressive. What is the secret of this popularity? Both Russia and France have long-standing humanistic traditions. The focus of the plot, as a rule, is not historical event, no matter how outstanding it may be, but a person, with his passions, advantages, disadvantages and even weaknesses and vices. The author does not undertake to condemn his characters, but prefers to let the reader draw his own conclusions about what fate to choose. He even pities those of them who chose the wrong path. There are many examples.

How Flaubert felt sorry for his Madame Bovary

Gustave Flaubert was born on December 12, 1821 in Rouen. Monotone provincial life was known to him since childhood, and even in mature years he rarely left his town, only once committing long journey to the East (Algeria, Tunisia), and, of course, visited Paris. This French poet and writer wrote poems that seemed to many critics then (this opinion still exists today) to be too melancholic and languid. In 1857, he wrote the novel Madame Bovary, which at that time received notoriety. The story of a woman who sought to break out of the hateful circle of everyday life and therefore cheated on her husband, then seemed not just controversial, but even indecent.

However, this plot, alas, is quite common in life, performed by the great master, and goes far beyond the scope of the usual obscene anecdote. Flaubert tries, and with great success, to penetrate into the psychology of his characters, towards whom he sometimes feels anger, expressed in merciless satire, but more often - pity. His heroine dies tragically, the despised and loving husband, apparently (this is more likely to be guessed than indicated by the text) knows about everything, but sincerely grieves, mourning his unfaithful wife. Both Flaubert and other French writers of the 19th century devoted quite a lot of their works to issues of fidelity and love.

Maupassant

WITH light hand Many literary writers consider him almost the founder of romantic eroticism in literature. This opinion is based on some moments in his works containing immodest, by the standards of the 19th century, descriptions of scenes of an intimate nature. From today's art historical perspective, these episodes look quite decent and, in general, are justified by the plot. Moreover, this is not the main thing in the novels, novels and stories of this wonderful writer. The first place in importance is again occupied by relationships between people and such personal qualities as depravity, the ability to love, forgive and simply be happy. Like other famous French writers, Maupassant studies the human soul and identifies the necessary conditions for his freedom. He is tormented by the hypocrisy of “public opinion”, created precisely by those who themselves are by no means impeccable, but impose their ideas of decency on everyone.

For example, in the story “Zolotar” he describes the story touching love a French soldier to a black colonial woman. His happiness did not materialize; his relatives did not understand his feelings and were afraid of possible condemnation from their neighbors.

The writer's aphorisms about war are interesting, which he likens to a shipwreck, and which should be avoided by all world leaders with the same caution as ship captains avoid reefs. Maupassant shows observation by contrasting low self-esteem with excessive complacency, considering both of these qualities to be harmful.

Zola

No less, and perhaps much more shocking to the reading public was the French writer Emile Zola. He willingly based the plot on the life of courtesans (“The Trap”, “Nana”), the inhabitants of the social bottom (“The Belly of Paris”), described in detail the hard life of coal miners (“Germinal”) and even the psychology of a murderous maniac (“The Beast Man” ). Unusual general literary form, selected by the author.

He combined most of his works into a twenty-volume collection, collectively called Rougon-Macquart. With all the variety of subjects and expressive forms, it represents something unified that should be perceived as a whole. However, any of Zola’s novels can be read separately, and this will not make it any less interesting.

Jules Verne, science fiction writer

Another French writer, Jules Verne, does not need special presentation, he became the founder of the genre, which later received the definition of “sci-fi”. What did this amazing storyteller not think of, who foresaw the emergence of nuclear submarines, torpedoes, lunar rockets and other modern attributes that became the property of mankind only in the twentieth century. Many of his fantasies today may seem naive, but the novels are easy to read, and this is their main advantage.

In addition, the plots of modern Hollywood blockbusters about dinosaurs resurrected from oblivion look much less plausible than the story of antediluvian dinosaurs that never went extinct on a single Latin American plateau, found by brave travelers (“ The Lost World"). And the novel about how the Earth screamed from a merciless prick of a giant needle completely goes beyond genre boundaries, being perceived as a prophetic parable.

Hugo

The French writer Hugo is no less fascinating in his novels. His characters find themselves in a variety of circumstances, revealing bright personality traits. Even negative heroes(for example, Javert from Les Misérables or Claude Frollo from Cathedral Notre Dame of Paris") have a certain charm.

The historical component of the story is also important, from which the reader will learn a lot with ease and interest. useful facts, in particular, about the circumstances of the French Revolution and Bonapartism in France. Jean Voljean from Les Miserables became the personification of simple-minded nobility and honesty.

Exupery

Modern French writers, and literary scholars include all the writers of the “Heminway-Fitzgerald” era as such, have also done a lot to make humanity wiser and kinder. The twentieth century did not spoil Europeans for decades of peace, and memories of Great War The years 1914-1918 soon received a reminiscence in the form of another global tragedy.

Didn't stay away from the fight honest people the whole world with fascism and the French writer Exupery - a romantic, creator of an unforgettable image Little Prince and a military pilot. The posthumous popularity of this writer in the USSR in the fifties and sixties could be the envy of many pop stars who performed songs, including those dedicated to his memory and his main character. And today, the thoughts expressed by a boy from another planet still call for kindness and responsibility for one’s actions.

Dumas, son and father

There were actually two of them, father and son, and both were wonderful French writers. Who doesn’t know the famous musketeers and their faithful friend D’Artagnan? Many film adaptations have glorified these characters, but none of them have been able to convey the charm of the literary source. The fate of the prisoner of the Chateau d'If will not leave anyone indifferent (“The Count of Monte Cristo”), and other works are very interesting. They will also be useful for young people whose personal development is just beginning; there are more than enough examples of true nobility in the novels of Dumas the Father.

As for the son, he also did not disgrace the famous surname. The novels “Doctor Servan”, “Three Strong Men” and other works clearly highlighted the peculiarities and bourgeois features of contemporary society, and “The Lady of the Camellias” not only enjoyed well-deserved reader success, but also inspired Italian composer Verdi decided to write the opera La Traviata; it formed the basis of its libretto.

Simenon

Detective will always be one of the most read genres. The reader is interested in everything about it - who committed the crime, the motives, the evidence, and the inevitable exposure of the perpetrators. But there is a difference between detective and detective. One of best writers modern era, of course, is Georges Simenon, the creator of the unforgettable image of the Parisian police commissioner Maigret. On my own artistic technique quite common in world literature, the image of an intellectual detective with an indispensable feature of appearance and recognizable behavior has been exploited more than once.

Simenon's Maigret differs from many of his “colleagues” in another characteristic French literature kindness and sincerity. He is sometimes ready to meet halfway people who have stumbled and even (oh, horror!) to violate certain formal articles of the law, while still remaining faithful to it in the main thing, not in the letter, in its spirit (“And yet the hazel tree turns green”).

Just a wonderful writer.

Gra

If we take a break from the past centuries and again mentally return to modern times, then the French writer Cedric Gras, a great friend of our country, deserves attention, devoting two books to Russian Far East and its residents. Having seen many exotic regions of the planet, he became interested in Russia, lived in it for many years, learned the language, which undoubtedly helps him to understand the notorious “ mysterious soul", about which he is already finishing writing a third book on the same topic. Here Gra found something that, apparently, he lacked in his prosperous and comfortable homeland. He is attracted by some “strangeness” (from a European point of view) national character, the desire of men to be courageous, their recklessness and openness. For the Russian reader, the French writer Cedric Gras is interesting precisely because of this “look from the outside,” which is gradually becoming more and more ours.

Sartre

Perhaps there is no other French writer so close to the Russian heart. Much in his work is reminiscent of another great literary figure of all times and peoples - Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. Jean-Paul Sartre's first novel, Nausea (many consider it his best), affirmed the concept of freedom as an internal category, not subject to external circumstances, to which a person is doomed by the very fact of his birth.

The author's position was confirmed not only by his novels, essays and plays, but also by personal behavior demonstrating complete independence. A man of leftist views, he nevertheless criticized the policies of the USSR post-war period, which did not prevent him, in turn, from refusing the prestigious Nobel Prize, awarded for allegedly anti-Soviet publications. For the same reasons, he did not accept the Order of the Legion of Honor. Such a nonconformist deserves respect and attention; he is certainly worth reading.

Vive la France!

Many other outstanding French writers are not mentioned in the article, not because they to a lesser extent deserve love and attention. You can talk about them endlessly, enthusiastically and enthusiastically, but until the reader himself picks up the book and opens it, he does not fall under the spell of the wonderful lines, sharp thoughts, humor, sarcasm, light sadness and kindness emitted by the pages . There are no mediocre peoples, but there are, of course, outstanding ones who have made a special contribution to the world treasury of culture. For those who love Russian literature, it will be especially pleasant and useful to become familiar with the works of French authors.

Culture and Education

Mikhailov, A.D. Some features French Renaissance // LITERATURE Renaissance and problems world literature . M.: “Science”, 1967
Reizov B.G. French novel XIX century. M., “Higher School”, 1977
History of French literature. M.: “Higher School”, 1987
Darcos X. Histoire de la littérature française. P., Hachette Livre, 1992
Meilakh M.B. Medieval Provencal biographies and courtly culture of 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. Vol. 1: French Literature of the 19th Century. M.: Russian. state humanist University, 1998
Western European theater from the Renaissance to the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. M.: RSUH, 2001
Meletinsky E.M. From myth to literature. Course of lectures “Theory of myth and historical poetics» . M.: Russian. state humanist University, 2001
Zenkin S.N. French novel tism and the idea of ​​culture. Unnaturalness, plurality and relativity in literature. M.: Russian. state humanist University, 2002
Kosikov G.K. Francois Villon// Villon F. Poems: Collection. M.: OJSC Publishing House "Raduga", 2002
Zyumtor P. Experience in constructing medieval poetics. St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2003

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French writers are among the most prominent representatives European prose. Many of them are recognized novels and stories of which served as the basis for the formation of fundamentally new artistic movements and directions. Of course, modern world literature owes a lot to France; the influence of writers from this country extends far beyond its borders.

Moliere

The French writer Moliere lived in the 17th century. His real name is Jean-Baptiste Poquelin. Moliere - stage name. He was born in 1622 in Paris. In his youth, he studied to become a lawyer, but as a result, an acting career attracted him more. Over time, he had his own troupe.

In Paris he made his debut in 1658 in the presence Louis XIV. Great success There was a play "The Doctor in Love". In Paris he takes up writing dramatic works. For 15 years he creates his own best plays, which often caused fierce attacks from others.

One of his first comedies, entitled "Funny Primroses", was first staged in 1659.

It tells the story of two rejected suitors who are coldly received in the house of the bourgeois Gorgibus. They decide to take revenge and teach capricious and cutesy girls a lesson.

One of the most famous plays French writer Moliere is called "Tartuffe, or the Deceiver". It was written in 1664. The action of this work takes place in Paris. Tartuffe, a modest, learned and selfless man, ingratiates himself into the trust of the wealthy owner of the house, Orgon.

Those around Orgon are trying to prove to him that Tartuffe is not as simple as he pretends to be, but the owner of the house does not believe anyone except his new friend. Finally, Tartuffe’s true essence is revealed when Orgon entrusts him with the storage of money, transfers his capital and house to him. Only thanks to the intervention of the king is it possible to restore justice.

Tartuffe is punished, and Orgon's property and house are returned. This play made Moliere the most famous French writer of his time.

Voltaire

In 1694, another famous French writer, Voltaire, was born in Paris. It is interesting that, like Moliere, he had a pseudonym, and his real name was Francois-Marie Arouet.

He was born into the family of an official. He received his education at a Jesuit college. But, like Moliere, he left jurisprudence, choosing in favor of literature. He began his career in the palaces of aristocrats as a freeloading poet. Soon he was imprisoned. For satirical poems dedicated to the regent and his daughter, he was imprisoned in the Bastille. Later, he had to suffer more than once for his willful literary disposition.

In 1726, the French writer Voltaire left for England, where he devoted three years to the study of philosophy, politics and science. Returning, he writes for which the publisher is sent to prison, and Voltaire manages to escape.

Voltaire, first of all, is famous French writer-philosopher. In his writings, he repeatedly criticizes religion, which was unacceptable for that time.

Among the most famous works of this writer on French literature, one should highlight satirical poem"The Virgin of Orleans" In it, Voltaire presents the successes of Joan of Arc in a comic manner and ridicules the courtiers and knights. Voltaire died in 1778 in Paris; it is known that for a long time he corresponded with the Russian Empress Catherine II.

The 19th century French writer Honore de Balzac was born in the town of Tours. His father got rich by reselling land, even though he was a peasant. He wanted Balzac to become a lawyer, but he abandoned his legal career, devoting himself entirely to literature.

He published the first book under his own name in 1829. It was the historical novel "Chouans", dedicated to the Great french revolution 1799. His fame is brought to him by the story "Gobsek" about a moneylender for whom stinginess turns into mania, and the novel " Shagreen leather", dedicated to the encounter of an inexperienced person with vices modern society. Balzac becomes one of the favorite French writers of that time.

The idea for the main work of his life came to him in 1831. He decides to create a multi-volume work that will reflect the picture of the morals of his contemporary society. He would later call this work “The Human Comedy.” This is philosophical and art history France, to the creation of which he devotes the rest of his life. The French writer, author of The Human Comedy, includes many previously written works in it, and specially reworks some.

Among them are the already mentioned “Gobsek”, as well as “A Thirty-Year-Old Woman”, “Colonel Chabert”, “Père Goriot”, “Eugenia Grande”, “Lost Illusions”, “The Splendor and Poverty of Courtesans”, “Sarrazin”, “Lily of the Valley” and many other works. It is as the author of The Human Comedy that the French writer Honore de Balzac remains in the history of world literature.

Among the French writers of the 19th century, Victor Hugo also stands out. One of the key figures of French romanticism. He was born in the town of Besançon in 1802. He began writing at the age of 14, these were poems, in particular, Hugo translated Virgil. In 1823 he published his first novel entitled "Gan the Icelander".

In the 30-40s of the 19th century, the work of the French writer V. Hugo was closely connected with the theater; he also published poetry collections.

Among his most famous works is the epic novel Les Miserables, which is deservedly considered one of the greatest books of all. XIX century. His main character An ex-convict, angry at all of humanity, returns from hard labor, where he spent 19 years because of the theft of bread. He ends up with a Catholic bishop, who completely changes his life.

The priest treats him with respect, and when Valjean steals from him, he forgives him and does not hand him over to the authorities. The man who accepted and took pity on him shocked the protagonist so much that he decides to found a factory for making black glass products. Becomes the mayor of a small town, for which the factory turns into a city-forming enterprise.

But when he still stumbles, the French police rush to look for him, Valjean is forced to hide.

Another one was published in 1831 famous work French writer Hugo's novel "Notre Dame de Paris". The action takes place in Paris. The main female character is the gypsy Esmeralda, who drives everyone around her crazy with her beauty. The priest of Notre Dame Cathedral is secretly in love with her. His pupil, the hunchback Quasimodo, who works as a bell-ringer, is also fascinated by the girl.

The girl herself remains faithful to the captain of the royal riflemen, Phoebus de Chateaupere. Blinded by jealousy, Frollo wounds Phoebus, and Esmeralda herself becomes the accused. She is sentenced to death. When the girl is brought to the square to be hanged, Frollo and Quasimodo watch. The hunchback, realizing that it is the priest who is to blame for her troubles, throws him from the top of the cathedral.

When talking about the books of the French writer Victor Hugo, one cannot fail to mention the novel “The Man Who Laughs.” The writer created it in the 60s of the 19th century. Its main character is Gwynplaine, who was mutilated as a child by representatives of a criminal community of child traffickers. The fate of Gwynplaine is very similar to the story of Cinderella. From a fair artist he turns into an English peer. By the way, the action takes place in Britain at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries.

The famous French writer, author of the story “Dumpling”, the novels “Dear Friend”, “Life”, Guy de Maupassant was born in 1850. During his studies, he showed himself to be a capable student with a passion for theater arts and literature. He served as a private during the Franco-Prussian War and worked as an official in the Naval Ministry after his family went bankrupt.

The aspiring writer immediately captivated the public with his debut story “Pyshka”, in which he told about an overweight prostitute nicknamed Pyshka, who, together with nuns and representatives upper strata society leaves the besieged Rouen during the war of 1870. The ladies around her at first treat the girl arrogantly, even unite against her, but when they run out of food, they willingly help themselves to her provisions, forgetting about any hostility.

The main themes of Maupassant's work were Normandy, the Franco-Prussian War, women (as a rule, they became victims of violence), and their own pessimism. Over time, his nervous illness intensifies, and themes of hopelessness and depression occupy him more and more.

His novel “Dear Friend” is very popular in Russia, in which the author talks about an adventurer who managed to do brilliant career. It is noteworthy that the hero does not have any talents other than natural beauty, thanks to which he conquers all the ladies around him. He does a lot of mean things, with which he calmly gets along, becoming one of powerful of the world this.

He was born in 1885 into a wealthy family of Jews from Alsace who converted to Catholicism. He studied at the Rouen Lyceum. At first he worked at his father's cloth factory.

During the First World War he was a liaison officer and military translator. His first success came in 1918, when he published the novel The Silent Colonel Bramble.

Later he participated in the French Resistance. He also served during World War II. After France capitulated to fascist troops, he left for the USA, in America he wrote biographies of General Eisenhower, Washington, Franklin, Chopin. Returned to France in 1946.

Besides biographical works, Maurois was famous as a master psychological novel. Among the most notable books of this genre are the novels: “Family Circle”, “The Vicissitudes of Love”, “Memoirs”, published in 1970.

Albert Camus- a famous French writer-publicist who was close to the current of existentialism. Camus was born in Algeria in 1913, which was a French colony at the time. My father died in the First World War, after which my mother and I lived in poverty.

In the 1930s, Camus studied philosophy at the University of Algiers. He became interested in socialist ideas, even was a member of the French Communist Party, until he was expelled, suspected of “Trotskyism.”

In 1940, Camus completed his first famous work - the story "The Stranger", which is considered classic illustration ideas of existentialism. The story is told on behalf of a 30-year-old Frenchman named Meursault, who lives in colonial Algeria. On the pages of the story, three main events of his life take place - the death of his mother, murder local resident and the trial that followed, he starts an on-and-off relationship with the girl.

In 1947, Camus's most famous novel, The Plague, was published. This book is in many ways an allegory of the “brown plague” recently defeated in Europe - fascism. At the same time, Camus himself admitted that he put evil in general into this image, without which it is impossible to imagine existence.

In 1957, the Nobel Committee awarded him the Literature Prize for works that highlighted the importance of human conscience.

The famous French writer Jean-Paul Sartre, like Camus, was an adherent of the ideas of existentialism. By the way, he was also awarded the Nobel Prize (in 1964), but Sartre refused it. He was born in Paris in 1905.

He proved himself not only in literature, but also in journalism. In the 50s, working for the magazine "New Times", he supported the desire of the Algerian people to gain independence. He advocated for the freedom of self-determination of peoples, against torture and colonialism. French nationalists repeatedly threatened him, twice blew up his apartment, located in the center of the capital, and militants repeatedly seized the magazine's editorial office.

Sartre supported the Cuban Revolution and took part in student unrest in 1968.

His very famous work- novel "Nausea". He wrote it back in 1938. The reader finds himself in the diary of a certain Antoine Roquentin, who keeps it with one single goal - to get to the bottom of it. He is worried about the changes happening to him, which the hero cannot figure out. The nausea that overcomes Antoine from time to time becomes the main symbol of the novel.

Soon after October Revolution such a thing as Russian-French writers appeared. Large quantity Russian writers were forced to emigrate; many found refuge in France. The writer Gaito Gazdanov, born in St. Petersburg in 1903, is called French.

During Civil War in 1919 Gazdanov joined volunteer army Wrangel, even though he was only 16 years old at the time. Served as a soldier on an armored train. When white army was forced to retreat, ended up in the Crimea, and from there sailed by ship to Constantinople. He settled in Paris in 1923 and spent most of his life there.

His fate was not easy. He worked as a locomotive cleaner, a loader at the port, a mechanic at the Citroen plant, when he could not find any work, he spent the night on the street, living like a clochard.

At the same time, he studied for four years at the University of History and Philology at the famous French Sorbonne University. Even after becoming famous writer, for a long time did not have financial solvency, was forced to work as a taxi driver at night.

In 1929, he published his first novel, An Evening at Claire's. The novel is conventionally divided into two parts. The first tells about the events that happened to the hero before meeting Claire. And the second part is devoted to memories of the times of the Civil War in Russia; the novel is largely autobiographical. The thematic centers of the work are the death of the protagonist's father, the situation that prevails in the cadet corps, and Claire. One of central images is an armored train, which serves as a symbol of constant departure, the desire to always learn something new.

It is interesting that critics divide Gazdanov’s novels into “French” and “Russian”. They can be used to track the formation of the author’s creative self-awareness. In “Russian” novels, the plot, as a rule, is based on an adventurous strategy, the experience of the “traveler” author, and many personal impressions and events are revealed. Gazdanov's autobiographical works are the most sincere and frank.

Gazdanov differs from most of his contemporaries in his laconicism, rejection of the traditional and classical novel form, often he does not have a plot, climax, denouement, or a clearly structured plot. At the same time, his narrative is as close as possible to real life, it covers a variety of psychological, philosophical, social and spiritual issues. Most often, Gazdanov is not interested in the events themselves, but in how they change the consciousness of his characters; he tries to interpret the same life manifestations in different ways. His most famous novels: “The Story of a Journey”, “Flight”, “Night Roads”, “The Ghost of Alexander Wolf”, “The Return of Buddha” (after the success of this novel he gained relative financial independence), “Pilgrims”, “Awakening”, “Evelina and her friends,” “Coup,” which was never completed.

No less popular are the stories of the French writer Gazdanov, whom he can fully call himself. These are “The Lord of the Future”, “Comrade Brak”, “Black Swans”, “The Eight of Spades Society”, “Error”, “Evening Companion”, “Ivanov’s Letter”, “The Beggar”, “Lanterns”, “The Great Musician”.

In 1970, the writer was diagnosed with lung cancer. He bravely endured the illness; most of his acquaintances did not even suspect that Gazdanov was sick. Few of those close to him knew how hard it was for him. The prose writer died in Munich and was buried in the Sainte-Genevieve des Bois cemetery near the French capital.

There are many popular French writers among their contemporaries. Perhaps the most famous among those living today is Frederick Beigbeder. He was born in 1965 near Paris. Received higher education at the Institute of Political Studies, then studied marketing and advertising.

Started working as a copywriter in a large advertising agency. At the same time, he collaborated with magazines as a literary critic. When he was fired from an advertising agency, he took up the novel “99 Francs,” which brought him worldwide success. This is a bright and frank satire that exposed the ins and outs of the advertising business.

The main character is an employee of a large advertising agency; we note that the novel is largely autobiographical. He lives in luxury, having a lot of money, women, and indulging in drugs. His life is turned upside down after two events that force the protagonist to take a different look at the world around us. It's an affair with the agency's most beautiful employee, Sophie, and a meeting at a huge dairy corporation about a commercial he's working on.

The main character decides to rebel against the system that gave birth to him. He begins to sabotage his own advertising campaign.

By that time, Begbeder had already published two books - “Memoirs of an unreasonable young man"(the title refers to Simone de Beauvoir's novel "Memoirs of a Well-Brought-Up Girl"), the collection of short stories "Holidays in a Coma" and the novel "Love Lives for Three Years", later filmed, like "99 Francs". Moreover, in this film Beigbeder himself acted in director's role.

Many of Beigbeder's heroes are extravagant playmakers, very similar to the author himself.

In 2002, he published the novel "Windows on the World", written exactly a year after the terrorist attack on the World War II shopping mall in New York. Beigbeder is trying to find words that can express the horror of the impending reality, which turns out to be worse than the most incredible Hollywood fantasies.

In 2009 he wrote "The French Novel" autobiographical narrative, in which the author is placed in a pre-trial detention cell for using cocaine in public place. There he begins to remember his forgotten childhood, recalling the meeting of his parents, their divorce, his life with his older brother. Meanwhile, the arrest is extended, the hero begins to be overwhelmed by fear, which forces him to reconsider own life and leave prison a different person who has regained his lost childhood.

One of latest works Beigbeder - the novel "Una and Salinger", telling about the love of the famous American writer, who wrote general ledger teenagers of the 20th century "The Catcher in the Rye", and the 15-year-old daughter of the famous Irish playwright Unoy O'Neil.

Famous French writers have made invaluable contributions to world literature. From the existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre to Flaubert's commentary on society, France is well known for bringing examples to the world literary geniuses. Thanks to many famous sayings who quote masters of literature from France, there is a high probability that you are very familiar, or by at least heard about works of 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 who have ever lived. Most likely you have read or at least heard about these famous French writers.

Honore 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 became more about trying something and failing than actual 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. A story of King Lear set in 1820s Paris, Père Goriot is Balzac's reflection of a money-loving society.

Samuel Beckett, 1906-1989

Samuel Beckett is actually Irish, but he wrote mostly in French because he lived in Paris, moving there in 1937. He is considered the last great modernist and some argue that he is the first postmodernist. Particularly prominent in his personal life was his involvement in the French Resistance during World War II, when he was under German occupation. Although Beckett published widely, he was most renowned 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 the play that Rostand wrote about him called Cyrano de Bergerac. The play has been staged and made into films many times. The plot is well known: Cyrano loves Roxane, 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 more famous than Rostand's play. According to descriptions, he had an extremely large nose of which he was very proud.

Albert Camus, 1913-1960

Albert Camus is an author of Algerian origin 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 two most famous novels are absurd: L "Étranger (The Stranger) and Le Mythe de Sisyphe (The Myth of Sisyphus). He was perhaps best known as a philosopher and his works are a reflection of the life of that time. In fact, he wanted to become footballer, but contracted tuberculosis at the age of 17 and was bedridden for long period time.

Victor Hugo, 1802-1885

Victor Hugo would call himself primarily a humanist who used literature to describe the conditions of human life and the injustices of society. Both of these themes are easily visible in his two most famous works: Les misèrables (Les Miserables), and Notre-Dame de Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral is also known by 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, which describe the dangerous adventures of heroes. Dumas was a prolific writer and many of his stories are still retold today:
Three Musketeers
Count of Montecristo
The Man in the Iron Mask

1821-1880

His first published novel, Madame Bovary, became perhaps his most famous work. It was originally published as a series of novellas, 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 to write science fiction. Many literary critics He is even considered 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

Moliere
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 was, and continues to be, driving force philosophy. Paris is fertile ground for the newest ideas, philosophies and movements the world has ever seen.

Famous French writers

Famous French writers have made invaluable contributions to the world
literature. From the existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre to commentaries on
Flaubert Society, France is well known for the phenomenon of world examples
literary geniuses. Thanks to the many famous sayings that
quote 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 works of literature have appeared
in France. While this list is hardly comprehensive, it does contain some
one of the greatest literary masters who ever lived. Quicker
everything you have read or at least heard about these famous French
writers.

Honore de Balzac, 1799-1850

Balzac is a French writer and playwright. One of his most famous
works "The Human Comedy" became his first real taste of success in
literary world. In fact, his personal life became more of an attempt
trying something and failing rather than actually succeeding. He, according to
according to many literary critics, is considered one of
"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, taking place in the 1820s in Paris, the book "Père Goriot" is
Balzac's reflection of a money-loving society.

Samuel Beckett, 1906-1989

Samuel Beckett is actually Irish, but he mostly wrote
in French, because he lived in Paris, moving there in 1937. He
considered the last great modernist and some argue that he is
the first postmodernist. Particularly outstanding in his personal life was
participation in the French Resistance during World War II,
when it was under German occupation. Although Beckett published a lot,
he most of all 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 the play that was
written about him by Rostand under the title "Cyrano de Bergerac". play
It has been staged and made into films many times. The plot is familiar: Cyrano
loves Roxana, but stops courting her so as not to
such an eloquent friend to read his poems to her. Rostand most likely
embellishes the real characteristics of de Bergerac's life, although he
he truly was a phenomenal swordsman and a delightful poet.
It can be said that his poetry is more famous than Rostand's play. By
He is described as having an extremely large nose, of which he was very proud.

Albert Camus, 1913-1960

Albert Camus is an author of Algerian origin who received
Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. He was the first African
who achieved this, and the second youngest writer in history
literature. Despite the fact that he is associated with existentialism, Camus
rejects any labels. His two most famous novels are absurd:
L "Étranger (The Stranger) and Le Mythe de Sisyphe (The Myth of Sisyphus). He was,
perhaps best known as a philosopher and his works - 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 call himself first and foremost a humanist who used
literature to describe the conditions of human life and injustice
society. Both of these themes can be easily seen in two of his most famous
works: Les misèrables (Les Miserables), and Notre-Dame de Paris (The 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 depict dangerous
adventures of heroes. Dumas was prolific in writing and many of his
The stories are still retold today:
Three Musketeers
Count of Montecristo
The Man in the Iron Mask
The Nutcracker (made famous through Tchaikovsky's ballet version)

Gustave Flaubert 1821-1880

His first published novel, Madame Bovary, became 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, here
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

There are many other great French writers:

Moliere
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 was, and continues to be, the driving force of philosophy.
Paris is fertile ground for new ideas, philosophies and movements that
ever seen the world.