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French Language, Literature & Culture
Your guide to print and online sources for French language learning, easy reading and culture.
Photo: Pont Alexandre III, clipart.com.
Key Databases for Literary Criticism
- MLA International Bibliography (EBSCO) This link opens in a new windowIndexes critical scholarship on literature, criticism, language, linguistics, and folklore. Includes thousands of titles including journals, series, monographs, dissertations, bibliographies, proceedings, and other materials, from the late 19th century to the present.
- JSTOR This link opens in a new windowSearchable full-text and full-image backfiles of scholarly journals, as well as e-books, and primary resources. Subject areas include the arts, humanities, social sciences, science, math, and business. Includes the Artstor Digital Library containing millions of images from the world's museums, archives, and libraries.
- Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA) (ProQuest) This link opens in a new windowIndexes the international literature in linguistics and language sciences. Includes abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews, books, book chapters, and dissertations. Significant linkage to full text. 1920 - current.
Print Encyclopedias & Criticism
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The New Oxford Companion to Literature in French by Call Number: PQ41 .N49 1995Encyclopedic dictionary
Paths to Contemporary French Literature by Call Number: PQ305 .T39 2004Literary criticism in alpha order by author
3 volumes- Modern French Literature byCall Number: PQ306 .M57Literary criticism in alpha order by author
2 volumes
Anthologies of French Literature
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- Mille ans de littérature française byCall Number: PQ1109 .B68 2003Introductory anthology to French literature.
- Littérature, textes et documents byCall Number: PQ116 .L57 1986Introductory French anthology in 5 volumes.
v. 1. XVIe siècle: moyen age
v. 2. XVIIe siècle
v. 3. XVIIIe siècle
v. 4. XIXe siècle
v. 5. XXe siècle
Literature of La Francophonie
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The Cambridge Introduction to Francophone Literature by Call Number: PQ3809 .C67 2007An introduction to Francophone literature including descriptions of the writings of authors from the Maghreb, Sub-Saharan Africa, Canada, Oceania, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Also available as an e-book.
Francophone Literatures: An Introductory Survey by Call Number: PQ3809 .J33 1996Introduction to the most important Francophone writers from various parts of the world.
Francophone Post-Colonial Cultures: Critical Essays by Call Number: PQ3897 .F73 2003Literary criticism of selected works of Francophone authors.
Also, available as an e-book.
The Companion to African Literatures by Call Number: PR9340 .C65 2000Dictionary format covering topics and themes in African literature as well as biographical information on authors.
The Black Renaissance in Francophone African and Caribbean Literatures by Call Number: PQ3980.5 .F75 2008Also available as an e-book.
An Introduction to Caribbean Francophone Writing by Call Number: PQ3940 .I58 1999A critical analysis of selected writings by several Caribbean Francophone writers.
The Other Hybrid Archipelago: Introduction to the Literatures and Cultures of the Francophone Indian Ocean by Call Number: PQ3897 .H39 2007- Dictionnaire des écrivains francophones classiques: Afrique subsaharienne, Caraïbe, Maghreb, Machrek, Océan Indien byCall Number: PQ3897 .C3 2010Biographical dictionary of Francophone writers with descriptions of some of their major works. In French.
- Littérature francophone: anthologieCall Number: PQ101 .L58 1992bBrief biographies followed by excerpts of a selection from each author's writings. In French.
- Littératures nationales d'écriture française : Afrique noire, Caraïbes, océan Indien: histoire littéraire et anthologie byCall Number: PQ3809 .R75 1987Biographical information and brief excerpts of selected writings. In French.
French Literature Online
- Gallica Digital LibraryDigital library of French books, journals, manuscripts, maps and thematic collections.
- ABU - la Bibliothèque UniverselleABU (Association des Bibliophiles Universels) provides access to French texts in the public domain.
Finding French Books in the Library
PN6745-6790 French comic books, graphic novels
PQ1-3999 French literature
PQ1-771 History and criticism
PQ1100-1297 Collections
PQ1100-1145 General
PQ1160-1193 Poetry
PQ1211-1241 Drama
PQ1243-1297 Prose
PQ1600-2726 Modern literature
Individual authors:
PQ1600-1709 16th century
PQ1710-1935 17th century
PQ1947-2147 18th century
PQ2149-2551 19th century
PQ2600-2651 1900-1960
PQ2660-2686 1961-2000
PQ2700-2726 2001-
PQ3800-3999 Provincial, local, colonial, etc.
French Literary Prize Winners
- Palmarès littéraires (Literary Awards): La Lettre du LibraireFind lists of annual award winners for popular literary awards in France.
Some popular French Literary Prizes:
Prix Goncourt
Prix Renaudot
Prix Femina
Prix Interallié
Prix Académie Française
Prix Médicis