Library Research Guide for French Studies
This research guide identifies fundamental reference resources for students and researchers in French Studies. The guide includes some general literature resources as well.
French Literature
Research in French Literature | Handbooks and Encyclopedia | Bibliography | Biographical Sources
Guides to Resources for Conducting Research in French Literature
- Baker, Robert K. Introduction to Library Research in French Literature. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1978. (Ref. Z2171.B34).
- Bassan, Fernande et al. French Language and Literature: An Annotated Bibliography. NY: Garland, 1989. (Ref. Z2175.A2B39 1989).
- Osburn, Charles B. Research and Reference Guide to French Studies. 2d ed. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1981. (Ref. Z2175.A2O8).
Handbooks and Encyclopedias of French and Francophone Literatures
- de Beaumarchais, J-P., Daniel Couty, Alain Rey. Dictionnaire del litteratures de langue francaise. 3 v. Paris: Bordas, 1984. (Ref. PQ41.D533).
Brief articles treat all aspects of French language literature; longer articles treat major authors and include chronologies of life and works, and synopses of major writings. - Dolbow, Sondra. Dictionary of Modern French Literature from the Age of Reason through Realism. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1986. (Ref. PQ41.D65 1986).
- Levi, Anthony. Guide to French Literature, 1789 to the Present.Chicago: St. James Press, 1942. [Ref. P241.L48 1942].
- Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature. (Ref. PR9180.2.O93 1983).
- New Oxford Companion to French Literature. (Ref. PQ41.N48 1995).
- Pavis, Patrice. Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts, and Analysis. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998. Translation by Christine Schantz of Dictionnaire du teatre. (Ref. PN2035.P2913 1998).
General Encyclopedias of Literature
- Groden, Michael and Martin Kreiswirth, eds. Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism . Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994. (also available in print at Ref. PN81.J54 1994) .
- 2. Serafin, Steven R., gen. ed. . Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century. 4 vols. 3rd ed. New York : Ungar, 1999. (Ref. PN771.E5 1999)
- 3. Makaryk, Irena R., ed. Encyclopedia of Contemporary Literary Theory. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1993. (Ref. PN81.E63 1993).
- 4. Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 7th ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publications, 1999.(Ref. PN44.5.A2 1999)4.
- 5. Seymour-Smith, Martin. Macmillan Guide to Modern World Literature. 3d. ed. London: Macmillan, 1985. (Ref. PN761.S43 1985b).
Bibliographies
- ARTFL via the E-Resource List.
A cooperative project of the Institut National de la Langue Française (INaLF) of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the Divisions of the Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Chicago. Full text database ranging from classic works in French literature to nonfiction prose and technical writings, mostly 18th-20th century texts. Coverage: about 2000 texts in the French language. Includes several historical dictionaries. - MLA Bibliography
The Modern Languages Association Bibliography indexes books, anthologies, dissertations and more than 3000 journals. It is available online via the E-Resource List . - Cabeen, David Clark, ed. A Critical Bibliography of French Literature. Syracuse: Syracuse Univ. Press, 1947-1983. (Ref. Z2171.C3).
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v. I Mediaeval Period
v. II 16th Century (Rev. 1984)
v. III(& suppl) 17th Century
v. IV(& suppl) 18th Century
v. VI(3 parts) 20th Century -
Klapp, Otto. Bibliographie der franzosischen literaturwissenschaft. 1956/58- . Frankfurt am Main: Klostermann, 1960- . Annual. (Ref. Z2171.K55).
For a listing of current scholarship in the field of French literature, "Klapp" is unrivaled. Chronologically arranged, with extensive coverage of periodical articles, books and essays in books, including many English language references. -
Rancoeur, Rene. Bibliographie de la Litterature francaise du moyen age a nos jours. Paris: A. Collin, 1953-1978. (Ref. Z2171.B5).
Though Klapp is more thorough, Rancoeur goes back farther. This annual bibliography is based on Rancoeur's quarterly list in REVUE D'HISTOIRE LITTERAIRE DE LA FRANCE. (Stacks PQ2.R5). -
French VII Bibliography: Critical and Biographical References for the Study of Contemporary French Literature. NY: Stechert-Hafner, 1949-68. v. 1-4 (whole nos. 1-20). (Ref. Z2173.M6) .
In combination with its successor, the FRENCH XX BIBLIOGRAPHY, FRENCH VII provides excellent coverage of books and magazine articles published 1940-1968 on 20th century French literature. -
French XX Bibliography.. NY: French Institute, 1969- . Annual. v. 5, no. 1- (Whole nos. 21- ). (Ref. Z2173.M6).
Takes up where FRENCH VII leaves off. Each volume list current books and articles of either a critical or biographical nature which deal with French literature of the present century. - The Year's Work in Modern Language Studies.Annual. London: Modern Humanities Research Association. 1929 (Vol. 1). (Ref. Z7006.Y42)
Biographical Sources
- Dictionnaire de biographie francaise. Paris: Letouzey, 1933- (In progress). (Ref. CT143.D5).
Present coverage through "Joncoux". Planned to be a much more extensive work than corresponding dictionaries of English and American biography. Signed articles are generally short; nearly all have bibliographies.