The Cambridge History of the Novel in French

This History is the first in a century to trace the development and impact of the novel in French from its beginnings to the present, exploring how novelists have responded to personal, economic, socio-political, cultural-artistic, and environmental factors. It offers a global perspective beyond the national borders of France to explore its colonial past and legacies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 791 pages
Publication date: 27 July 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This comprehensive History is the first in a century to trace the development and profound impact of the novel in French from its origins to the present. Leading experts delve into how French novelists have responded to a diverse range of personal, economic, socio-political, cultural-artistic, and environmental factors that have shaped their worlds. Spanning from the medieval precursors of the novel to the transformative influence of the internet, this History offers fresh insights into both canonical and lesser-known authors, providing a global perspective that transcends the boundaries of the Hexagon. It explores France's colonial past and its enduring legacies, offering accessible chapters that cover a wide range of topics, including the French novel in Sub-Saharan Africa, a data-driven analysis of the novel system in the seventeenth century, social critique in women's writing, the banned works of Sade, and much more. By highlighting continuities and divergences across different periods, this lively volume serves as a valuable guide through a diverse literary landscape, encouraging readers to engage in comparative analysis and draw connections between writers, works, and historical periods.

ISBN-13: 9781108739474