1. “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo (1862): This epic novel tells the story of Jean Valjean, a former convict who seeks redemption, and offers a sweeping portrayal of French society in the 19th century.
“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.”
2. “Madame Bovary” by Gustave Flaubert (1857): Flaubert’s novel is a masterpiece of realist literature, exploring the life of Emma Bovary, a woman whose unrealistic romantic fantasies lead to her downfall.
“She wanted to die, but she also wanted to live in Paris.”
3. “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas (1844): This adventure novel follows the story of Edmond Dantès, who seeks revenge against those who wronged him. It’s a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and redemption. The movie is fantastic, too!
“There are two ways of seeing: with the body and with the soul. The body’s sight can sometimes forget, but the soul remembers forever.”
4. Candide by Voltaire (1759): A satirical adventure depicting Candide’s absurd journey, critiquing optimism, and advocating for reason amidst a chaotic world.
“We must cultivate our garden.”
5. “The Stranger” by Albert Camus (1942): This existentialist novel tells the story of Meursault, an emotionally detached man who becomes embroiled in a murder trial.
“I may not have been sure about what really did interest me, but I was absolutely sure about what didn’t.”
6. “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1782): An epistolary novel, it presents the intrigues and manipulations of the morally corrupt French aristocracy.
“When one woman strikes at the heart of another, she seldom misses, and the wound is invariably fatal.”
7. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir (1949): This classic book explores the societal construction of womanhood, gender inequality, and women’s liberation.
“Women are made, they are not born.”
8. “The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas (1844): Dumas’s historical adventure novel follows the escapades of d’Artagnan and his three musketeer friends in 17th-century France.
“I love a woman who is not only beautiful but also witty, and not only witty but also kind.”
9. “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” by Victor Hugo (1831): This novel, set in medieval Paris, weaves together the stories of the deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo and the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda.
“Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, roots itself deeply in our being, and continues to flourish over a heart in ruin.”
10. “Swann’s Way” (In Search of Lost Time) by Marcel Proust (1913): The first volume of Proust’s monumental seven-part work explores themes of memory, time, and the complexities of human relationships.
“Happiness is beneficial for the body, but it is grief that develops the powers of the mind.”
