French classic prose

Author: Zheng Kelu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: French prose truly entered the literary hall and made its mark on the literary world, largely thanks to Montaigne. Montaigne's prose not only influenced French prose but also had a positive impact on the development of prose in Europe. In the 19th century, French prose flourished with writers displaying diverse styles. Prose can be used to measure a writer's linguistic skill and style. 20th-century French prose is a continuation of 19th-century prose but also has its own characteristics, such as the rise of biographical literature, the exploration of philosophical prose, and the unprecedented prosperity of prose poems. The body of French prose is vast, and it is obviously impossible to encompass it all within 200,000 words. This anthology inevitably leaves out many works. Prose before the 19th century is only selected from six authors to give readers a general understanding. The focus is on 19th- and 20th-century prose, but due to limited space, not all masterpieces can be included. Most of the selected works are renowned pieces. Fourteen of them are newly translated, accounting for about one-third of the entries.