A Living Tradition

Today, French literature continues to evolve, embracing voices from across the Francophone world. Writers from Africa, the Caribbean, North Africa, and Asia have enriched the tradition with new perspectives and experiences. The strict boundaries between "French" and "Francophone" literature have become increasingly porous, reflecting a more inclusive and global understanding of what constitutes French literary culture.

This collection celebrates that diversity. Alongside the canonical figures—Hugo, Flaubert, Baudelaire—you will meet writers who have been marginalized or forgotten, whose contributions deserve renewed attention. We explore not just the writers themselves but the networks, salons, journals, and movements that nurtured their work.