French classic lit (that's not Hugo and Camus)
Some staples of French literature that might be lesser known in the English-speaking world. List not finished, and all books are available in English. Centuries currently included: 12th to 20th. Genres: Novels, poems, plays, essays.
created by myrmy
last updated July, 2026
Comments
Oooh this is really cool! Are you taking suggestions? If so, may I also suggest Anouilh's Antigone and Flaubert's Madame Bovary? Though those are still quite well-known in comparison to others on this list...
myrmyOP
I absolutely take suggestions! Your mention of Antigone makes me think I should add some Cocteau as well. I was on the fence about Madame Bovary. I know it's typically featured on "the 100 books you should read before you die" kind of lists so it feels almost on the same level as Les Mis or The Outsider to me. But honestly? Some books I selected might also not fully fit my own criteria so I could still add it. It can be a little hard for me to tell what part of the French canon made it to the global canon and what remained in the Francophone sphere. Btw, do you think I could add books by major authors that are lesser known than their Magnum Opus? (I have a couple titles in mind for Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas for instance)
Yeah, I understand your hesitation about Madame Bovary - it's up to you to decide! As you said, it's sometimes hard to judge how well-known a work is outside of its own culture, which was why I also hesitated to comment about Flaubert 🙈 I also definitely think you could add lesser known books by major authors. Sometimes it's really interesting to read one of those and ask yourself why it's not as popular as the more well-known works, so yeah, go for it! I will totally be keeping my eye on this list, I have still only dipped my toes into French Lit (mostly what I had to read in school or what interested me), so thanks for this list!
I certainly think so. Hugo's works apart from Les Mis and the Hunchback aren't really popular outside the francophone. Also consider adding the Heptameron
