| Books
about/set in France
-
Classics
- More modern/lighter books
- Films
Classics
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Candide
by Voltaire
The renowned optimist Dr Pangloss teaches
his pupil that this is the "best of all possible
worlds" but subsequent events in Candide's life
lead him to question this. A wacky, sensational story,
illustrating the author's philosophy of life.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon. |
Recommended by: Georgie, Director of JMJ Manchester
Click here to read about JMJ
- the school, the teachers and the director. |
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame
by Victor Hugo An involving,
powerful, tragic story, wrapped up in a lot of description.
You need to persevere through (or skip) some long passages
about views of the cathedral etc. but the story itself
is wonderful. Yes, it's about the hunchback Quasimodo
rescuing the beautiful Esmeralda but it's not like the
Disney version at all.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Henrietta, student at JMJ |
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Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo A
huge and amazing book. It takes some concentration to
get through it all but it's well worth it. A moving,
harrowing, uplifting story - the suffering and courage
of ordinary people, against a background of revolution.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Vicki, student at JMJ |
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Les Misérables (abridged)
by Victor Hugo For
those with less time or patience, this abridged version
gives the main story without the weighty descriptions
and side-narratives.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon. |
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Germinal
by Emile Zola Industrial
unrest in a mining town may not sound very exciting
but Zola is such a great writer that actually it's gripping.
This book gives you a lot of insight into what life
was like for people at that time and is a much-loved
classic in France.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Cidalia, teacher at JMJ |
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Madame Bovary
by Gustave Flaubert Considered
shockingly racy in its day, this novel tells the story
of a hopeless romantic stuck in a passionless marriage,
and her search for excitement and happiness.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Charlotte, student at JMJ |
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The Three Musketeers
by Alexandre Dumas All
for one and one for all! Swashbuckling adventures in
the court of Louis XIII with d'Artagnan and the three
musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Guy, student at JMJ |
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The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas In
prison for a crime he didn't commit, Edmond Dantes hears
about hidden treasure at Monte Cristo and decides to
find it and use it to get revenge on the men responsible
for him being in prison.
A very long book
with a lot of hair-raising stuff in it. Never a dull
moment! I loved it.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Guy |
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Strait is the Gate
by André Gide A beautiful,
sad story of young love. The title refers to the strait
(narrow) gate of heaven, which allows only the most
virtuous to pass through it.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon. |
Recommended by: Natalie, student at JMJ |
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The Phantom of the
Opera
by Gaston Leroux Love, obsession,
murder and mystery at the Paris Opera House. A very
involving story.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon. |
Recommended by: Charlotte |
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| More
modern/lighter books |
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The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery A
beautiful story for everybody: my children love it and
so do I.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Le Petit Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery It's
written in very clear, accessible French. Even if you're
relatively new to the language, you will probably be
able to follow this quite well. (And you can always
get the English translation as back-up.) Go on, have
a go at reading this lovely story in the original!
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Julie, teacher at JMJ |
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Le Grand Meaulnes
by Henri Alain-Fournier Narrated
by his younger friend, who is somewhat in awe of him,
this book tells the story of Augustin Meaulnes, himself
only on the edge of adulthood, and his attempt to secure
and preserve the love and happiness he experienced briefly.
An unusual book that gives you a lot
to think about.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Natalie |
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The Solitude of Compassion
by Jean Giono Twenty beautifully written short
stories from inter-war Provence.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Sarah, student at JMJ |
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The Man Who Planted
Trees
by Jean Giono An illustrated allegory with
an ecological message. Beautiful in every way.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon. |
Recommended by: Sarah |
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I Wish Someone Were
Waiting for Me Somewhere
by Anna Gavalda Taut, insightful short stories
that are extremely popular in France.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Charlotte |
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Bonjour Tristesse
by Françoise Sagan Although
Sagan wrote this when she was only 18, in the story
she is middle-aged, looking back to her late teens.
Celine and her father are carefree and close, until
he decides to get married. She reacts badly, with tragic
consequences. Very well written and vivid.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Natalie |
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The Bar on the Seine
by Georges Simenon This is
just one in a long series of books starring Inspector
Maigret, of pan-European fame. Simenon was Belgian but
lived most of his adult life in Paris, the home of his
detective.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Georgie |
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| You can search for more Maigret
books by clicking here. |
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| And let's
not forget the fantastic graphic novels, ostensibly
for children but loved by everyone. They're witty, educational
and endlessly enjoyable.
You can search for Asterix books by
clicking here.
You can search for Tintin books by
clicking here.
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For an
Englishwoman's view of life in contemporary France,
do read Carol Drinkwater's Olive series. I really liked
her as an actress and I really like her as a writer.
I'm greatly enjoying feeling involved in her life and
seeing France through her eyes. I've just finished the
third book and am waiting for the fourth to come out
in paperback. |
Charlotte, student at JMJ |
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The Olive Farm: A Memoir
of Life, Love and Olive Oil
by Carol Drinkwater
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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The Olive Season: Amour,
a New Life and Olives Too
by Carol Drinkwater
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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The Olive Harvest: A
Memoir of Love, Life and Olives in the South of France
by Carol Drinkwater
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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C'est La Folie
by Michael Wright The author
becomes a real Man as he grapples with his new life,
alone in rural France. Illuminating and funny. An excellent
book.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Sarah |
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| Films |
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Jean de Florette (1986)
Actors: Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu
Director: Claude Berri
Certificate: PG
Excellent adaptation of a wonderful
book by Marcel Pagnol. Set in Provence in the 1920s,
it tells the story of two rival famers - simple but
deeply affecting.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon. |
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Manon des Sources
(1987) Actors: Yves Montand, Daniel Auteuil,
Emmanuelle Béart
Director: Claude Berri
Certificate: PG
The continuation of the story begun
in Jean de Florette. The daughter of the farmer played
by Gérard Depardieu seeks revenge for his fate.
These really are two of the best films I have ever
seen.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Cidalia, teacher at JMJ |
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La Gloire De Mon
Pere (1990) Actors: Phillippe Caubere, Nathalie
Roussel
Director: Yves Robert
Certificate: U
Another excellent adaptation of another masterpiece
by Pagnol, this time autobiographical.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Cidalia |
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Le Chateau De Ma
Mere (1991) Actors: Phillippe Caubere, Nathalie
Roussel
Director: Yves Robert
Certificate: U
Further exploits from Pagnol's youth, delightfully
portrayed.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Cidalia |
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Les Misérables
-- Two Disc Collector's Edition
Starring: Michael Ball, Colm Wilkinson
Certificate: Exempt
The musical sung on stage at the Albert
Hall. If you can't be at the show, watching this is
the next best thing.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Georgie |
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Les Misérables
(2000) Actors: Gérard Depardieu, Christian
Clavier, Virginie Ledoyen, John Malkovich, Charlotte
Gainsbourg
Certificate: 12
A film version of the novel.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Claude Berri Collection
Certificate: 15
Four films directed by Claude Berri in one box set:
Jean de Florette
Manon des Sources
Germinal
Lucie Aubrac
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Amélie (2001)
Actors: Audrey Tautou, Dominique Pinon
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Certificate: 15
A gentle, heart-warming film about
a girl who decides to make the world around her a fairer
place.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Natalie |
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Cyrano de Bergerac
Actors: Gérard Depardieu, Jacques Weber,
Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez, Roland Bertin
Director: Jean Paul Rappeneau
Certificate: U
The wonderful, well known story of
the romantic soul with the huge nose and his love for
Roxanne. Based on the play by Edmond Rostand. A great
film.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Natalie |
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Etre et Avoir (2002)
Actor: Georges Lopez
Director: Nicholas Philibert
Certificate: U
An unusual film looking at life in
a rural primary school. As well as very interesting,
I found it inspiring and encouraging.
Click here
to buy this now from Amazon.
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Recommended by: Julie |
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And finally…
I know David Suchet isn't really Belgian but I thought
I would recommend Poirot all the same. When I'm watching
these mysteries, I find my French rising to the surface
- and, anyway, they're usually excellent stories.
You can search for Poirot DVDs by clicking
here.
Georgie |
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| Inspired to learn
French? If you live in or near
Manchester, you could start a one-to-one
French course with us tomorrow (or whenever you
like).
If you are a complete beginner, you might like to have
a look at our introduction
to the French language.
Back to Recommended Reading
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