Modern French Literature
French classics that are not 1500 pages long and written 200 years ago. They are accessible, modern and relevant ! In summary, this is a list of French books of the XX c. and XXI c. of less than 400 pages. (Except The Second Sex but it is too culturally important not to put it in a list like that...)
(This list is purely based on what I know and have read. Feel free to suggest new books to add.)
created by Bunny_42
last updated October, 2026
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ANTIGOOOOOOOONE (by Jean Anouilh) The girl who played go by Shan Sa Fear and trembling (?) by Amelie Nothomb Tell them if kings battles and elephants by Mathias Enard
(I probably have other things I can rec, but those are ones I'v read and enjoyed and can summon form the top of my head)
Bunny_42OP
How could I forget Antigone ! Silly me
A David Foenkinos book could be relevant to this list considering he writes books that I feel like are a little bit mainstream and all the ones that I know are under 275 pages; I would personally recommend “La Délicatesse”. Also Rimbaud is from the XIXc and not the XXc (thanks to ✨le bac de français✨ I know his birth and death year by heart) but his influence was still end of XIXc and maybe a bit of the beginning of the XXc
I have a beef with Foenkinos so I did not put him on the list but now he is, thanks to your recommendations ! I took Rimbaud's one off, I just like his works so I wanted to put it here. I might do an "old and hella long french books" list now !
The « old and hella long French books” would totally be a great list ! Can you tell me more about your beef with Foenkinos ??? Cause I also found myself being annoyed at his books from time to time so I would love to learn about your opinion
When I started Vers la beauté I was hoping to like it since he was kind off famous for his previous works, I thought that the book was okay but too superficial and pointless for me. Then someone recommended me to read La Délicatesse and change my mind, unfortunately I was just more bored but still painfully finished it. Now I just don't find the point of reading his new books... (you won't ever catch me with Je suis drôle)
You think people would enjoy a list of super long french "classics" ?
I think that having a list of super long classic could be great for people looking for the big French masterpieces, and god knows we have many of them. I totally get you for Foenkinos, Vers La Beaute was not my first read of his books but it felt too much and not enough at the same time, I began with La DĂ©licatesse; but as I read more and more of his books I felt annoyed and sometimes disgusted at the way he uses sexual innuendos when it is not needed.
Bunny_42OP
I will consider that list then
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