If you're looking for some great reading material, we suggest you pick up these bestselling 20th century French books. Not only will you practice your French but you'll also read excellent novels!
This 1913 novel by Alain Fournier is his only novel since he was killed in the First World War. It is a 15-year-old boy named François Seurel who narrates the story of his friendship with Augustin Meaulnes. Meaulnes is a typical romantic, he is looking for Yvonne, a girl he meets at a costume party he stumbles upon. He becomes reckless, impulsive and acts like a hero to find this girl again. After a long period of time, the narrator and friend of Meaulnes finds Yvonne and reunited the two together. They were both in love with each other but after they marry, a few unfortunate events that end their time together.
If you have a Kindle, you can have it for free on Amazon.
This book is not a novel but it is a must-read. Simone de Beauvoir was a political activist and feminist who fought for women’s rights. She is said to be one of the women who started the second-wave feminism. This book was written in 1949 right after the Second World War. This book describes how women have been treated throughout history. She starts with the creation of woman and goes from century to century explaining women’s subordination. When the book was published, the Vatican added it to its List of Prohibited Books. Beauvoir wrote this book to express that “a woman’s situation, still, even today prevents her from exploring the world’s basic problems.”
A post shared by 📖 ☕ Marine (@danslejeudumonde) on
This is, unfortunately, the only other book written by a woman on this list. Marguerite Yourcenar wrote this novel in 1968 and it was automatically critically acclaimed and won the Prix Femina in 1968. The story takes place in Bruges during the Renaissance. Zeno, the protagonist, is an illegitimate son who becomes a physician, philosopher and scientist because he is born in a rich family. He ends his priesthood to search for truth and seeks knowledge. The Renaissance Era is known as a booming time for arts, science and capitalism and Zeno is really portrayed like a real Renaissance Man who unfortunately gets a sometimes dangerous reputation for his forward thinking.