Classic books for French learners
11 May '20 by Pauline Boucherie
Looking for new books to read to improve your French? Reading French classic books is not only suited for experts! Our digital library
“Culturethèque” features a variety of good classic novels adapted to learners and literature lovers, whether children and
adults. Find a selection in this article.
Travel bans all around the world do not have to prevent us from travelling in our imagination, to imaginary or real places. Social
distancing does not have to prevent us from feeling love either. The following selections were part of various newsletters on two topics:
the journey and love.
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A2-level
“L’île mystérieuse”
By Jules VERNES and Brigitte FAUCARD, digital book, 2010 - 47 pages
Who could be better than Jules VERNES to take you on an incredible journey? This classic book tells the story of five men fleeing from the
American Civil War to a desert island, where strange things happen… This book has some images, and it is really good for improving your
French, with exercises at the end of every chapter and definitions on each page. A book suited for both children and adults!
https://www.culturetheque.com/EXPLOITATION/US/doc/MESSAGGIO/MSG_6e99d81a-3e78-4b87-8bbe-b2c25cd2aa4c/l-ile-mysterieus
B1-level
“Vingt mille lieues sous les mers”
By Jules VERNES, digital book, 2014 - 88 pages
This is another story by the great novelist Jules VERNES. Follow Captain Nemo’s adventure under the sea, in his submarine called the
Nautilus. This book is a good way to read this classic French novel which is very long.
https://www.culturetheque.com/EXPLOITATION/US/doc/MESSAGGIO/MSG_9c71db23-b5d4-4cdd-b6ff-40d95e56b64e/vingt-mille-lieues-sous-les-mers
“La Vénus d'Ille”, “Colomba”, “Carmen”
By Prosper MÉRIMÉE and Nicolas GERRIER, digital book, 2018 - 128 pages
Culturethèque is full of classic French books suited for B1-level learners! Find here 3 short stories about passion and death, written by
Mérimée in the 19th century. “La Vénus d’Ile” is about a mysterious stone sculpture. “Colomba” is the story of
a dilemma: a man has to choose between avenging his father or staying with his beloved. Finally, read about the passionate love story of Don
José and Carmen. This book is recommended for teenagers and adults.
https://www.culturetheque.com/EXPLOITATION/Default/doc/MESSAGGIO/MSG_22e09f19-4e3a-4b05-b682-bf801e704f91/nouvelles-la-venus-d-ille-carmen-colomba
B2-level
“Carmen”
By Prosper MÉRIMÉE and Dominique LAMBERT-THIZY, digital book, 2003 - 47 pages
This is another adaptation of this classic French story written in the 19th century. In Spain, Don José, a soldier, meets Carmen, a
beautiful gypsy woman. She is a seducer, and they eventually begin a dangerous passionate love story. Find vocabulary and activities at the
end of each chapter. This story is suited for teenagers and adults.
https://www.culturetheque.com/EXPLOITATION/Default/doc/MESSAGGIO/MSG_26969afe-4739-4cb7-a17f-9e5969b6f7e6/carmen
Have a fun trip across the French language! We hope that these selections of books will help you learn, improve and enjoy the language from
home.
Do you want to discover new authors and practice French by discussing the books you have read? You may be interested in joining
our book clubs.
They are still running online during the quarantine!