Must read novels by French authors that are deep in their expression of love
As loved as the French culture is loved so is the literature
The language of French is often referred to as the language of romance and love. And the literature of France is unique for its narration, presentation of a subject, and the way characters are filled with emotions all the time. That is because the culture of France is all about warmth and love. Right from the 16th to the 19th century, French literature has only leaped into greater language and stories. So here are some of the few authors whose writing one should read once in a lifetime.
At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop
This novel was first published in French in 2018 and won the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens. The story revolves around Alfa Ndiaye and his adopted brother MadembaDiop - who is Senegalese Tirailleurs fighting in World War I. Suddenly one day, Alfa jokes about the Diop family’s totem, which is a peacock. And further states how it is cowardly when compared to the Ndiaye family’s totem, which is a lion. The story takes an uphill turn when Mademba, wanting to prove his bravery decides to battle, but ends up getting disemboweled.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The narrative of the novel takes place in France, Italy, and islands in the Mediterranean during 1815–1839, which was the era of the Bourbon Restoration through the reign of Louis-Philippe of France. The story begins on the day Napoleon left his first island of exile, Elba. It was the start of Napoleon’s Hundred Days period until he returned to power. As the story focuses on subjects of hope, justice, vengeance, and mercy, it tells the story through its main character of a man, wrongfully imprisoned. He eventually escapes from jail.
The Ladies’ Paradise by Émile Zola
Also known by the name The Ladies’ Delight, this is the 11th novel in the Rougon-Macquart series by Émile Zola. The plot of the book is set in the backdrop of the emergence of the department stores, which was a retail sales development of the mid-19th century. The author has placed his telling of a story after Le Bon Marché. The story gives out details of many of Le Bon Marché's innovations, including the mail-order business, the system of commissions, in-house staff commissary, and various methods of receiving and retailing goods.
A few other novels are The Collection by Nina Leger; The Mad Women’s Ball by Victoria Mas; My Father’s Glory by Marcel Pagnol; The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry; A Winter’s Promise by ChristelleDabos, and The Readers’ Room by Antoine Laurain.
