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This is a list of novelists from France. Novelists in this list should be notable in some way, and have Wikipedia articles on them. See also French novelists Category Index.
- Victor Hugo
- Alexandre Dumas
- Voltaire
- Honoré de Balzac
- George Sand
- Emile Zola
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- Jean-Paul Sartre
- Simone de Beauvoir
- Albert Camus
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One of France’s most famous writers has to be Victor Hugo. With a career spanning over 60 years, he wrote everything from poetryto satire, critical essays and historical odysseys. His most popular works that have been translated into over 60 languages have to be Les Miserables and Hunchback of Notre Dame (which was not intended to be a children’s t...
From the Comte of Monte Cristo to the Three Muskateers, Alexandre Dumasis one of the most well-known authors in France. His full name was Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, and he was born as the grandson of a French Marquis and an enslaved woman of Afro-Caribbean ancestry. Born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti), his father was considered m...
Going by a single nom de plume(pen name) is Voltaire, whose real name was François-Marie Arouet. A prolific writer, he produced works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, histories, and even scientific expositions. Among his most famous books is Letters to England and Candide. One of the key voices of the 1789 Fren...
French writer Honoré de Balzac is most well known for his opus La Comédie Humaine. While he wrote plenty of other novels and plays, it is his observation of the human condition in la Comédie Humainethat really put him on the map. Rather than a novel, it is a collection of short stories containing 91 finished works, including a variety of stories, n...
One of the most popular female writers in Francein her lifetime is Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, better known as George Sand. Choosing to wear male attire in public, she was a huge advocate for women’s rights and the working class. She even started her own newspaper, and her political writings brought her much attention. (She also openly had many f...
French Novelist Émile Zola wrote many short stories, essays and books. However, his most famous work is probably a newspaper article called “J’accuse“, meaning “I accuse”. It was written in defense of a Jewish officer in the French army, Alfred Dreyfus who was falsely accused of being a spy. Anti-semitism was rampant, and Dreyfus was put on trial, ...
The incontournable of French books always has to be Le Petit Prince. And the author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is another one of the notable French writers honored at the Panthéon. At first glance, le Petit Prince seems like a book for small children. However, once you start to read it, the layers of wisdom that the book doles out are worthy of rea...
French Writer Jean-Paul Sartre was philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, and political activist. Born in Paris, he was also the partner of another famous French writer-philosopher and feminist, Simone de Beauvoir. He and Simone met in university, and lived in Paris under the German Reich occupation during World War II. A liberal with sym...
French writer and female activistSimone de Beauvoir became famous for her writings on both feminist theory and feminist existentialism. France would grant women the right to vote during her lifetime in 1946, due to the advocacy work of writers and philosophers like her. Among her most famous books was the 1949 treatise The Second Sex, a detailed an...
One of the most famous French writers, Albert Camus was born in French Algeria to Pieds Noirsparents, eventually studying philosophy at the University of Algiers. By the time he made it to in Paris, the Germans had invaded France during World War II. Camus joined the French Resistance where he served as editor-in-chief at Combat, an outlawed newspa...
Learn about the most influential French authors and their books that shaped the French language and culture. From Victor Hugo to Emile Zola, discover their biographies, works and legacy in this comprehensive list.
Chronological list of French language authors (regardless of nationality), by date of birth. For an alphabetical list of writers of French nationality (broken down by genre), see French writers category
Aug 5, 2022 · The most famous French authors include: Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac, Émile Zola, Marcel Proust, George Sand, Voltaire, Albert Camus, Molière and more. French writers have had their works translated and sold around the world, telling stories of romance, bravery, and victory.
- Annie Ernaux. Nobel Prize in Literature (2022) awardee Annie Ernaux, French novelist and esteemed literature professor, has made significant contributions to the literary world for the past few decades.
- Yasmina Reza. Yasmina Reza, a renowned playwright, has gained significant recognition for her works. Check out her acclaimed novel “Le Dieu du carnage” (“God of Carnage”).
- Virginie Despentes. Often referred to as the female Michel Houellebecq (more on him later), French author and filmmaker Virginie Despentes is also an advocate for women’s rights.
- Delphine de Vigan. In 2007, “No et moi” (“No and Me”), Delphine de Vigan’s first novel, swept the French literary world. The book follows the friendship of two young girls, one of whom is extremely intelligent and has an IQ of 160, and the other is homeless and poor.
Feb 27, 2023 · Want to learn more about French authors who impacted the French art and literary world? This post will give you a list of the most famous French writers!
Jul 17, 2021 · Learn about the lives and works of 20 famous French authors, from Victor Hugo to Colette, who have shaped the history and culture of France. Discover their notable books, genres, influences, and interesting facts.
