Cover Wondering what French books you can read this Bastille Day? Find out from our list. Shown here is Van Gogh’s ‘Piles of French Novels’ (1887) (Image: Getty Images)
Wondering what French books you can read this Bastille Day? Find out from our list. Shown here is Van Gogh’s ‘Piles of French Novels’ (1887) (Image: Getty Images)
1 / 1
From sweeping historical epics to existential masterpieces, celebrate French National Day on July 14 with these essential French books.
France’s literary heritage is one of the most influential in global history. For centuries, French writers have used the power of the written word to spark revolutions, challenge societal structures and dissect the deepest complexities of the human condition.
On Bastille Day (July 14), dipping into a French novel—whether through a masterful English translation or in its original prose—is an extraordinary way to connect with the nation's intellectual spirit. From the romantic streets of 19th-century Paris to the profound philosophies of the mid-20th century, these highly acclaimed books are perfect additions to any modern reader’s library.
Here are nine French books to add to your reading list this French National Day.
1. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Above Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Wordsworth Editions)
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Wordsworth Editions)
1 / 1
Set against the backdrop of the turbulent decades leading up to the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, Victor Hugo’s monumental 1862 epic follows Jean Valjean, an escaped convict seeking redemption after serving nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. As Valjean attempts to build a virtuous life, he is relentlessly pursued by the fanatical police inspector Javert.
Les Misérables is much more than a gripping story of survival; it is a profound social critique that examines politics, law, justice, and the plight of the poor. Its enduring importance lies in how it successfully humanised the underclass of France, forever cementing Hugo as a literary champion of social justice and human dignity.
2. The Stranger (L’Étranger) by Albert Camus
Above The Stranger (L'Étranger) by Albert Camus, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of David Klaus)
The Stranger (L'Étranger) by Albert Camus, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of David Klaus)
1 / 1
This razor-sharp 1942 classic introduces Meursault, a detached and emotionally indifferent French Algerian clerk living in Algiers. After attending his mother’s funeral without shedding a tear, Meursault becomes entangled in a bizarre chain of events that culminates in him shooting an Arab man on a sun-drenched beach for no clear reason.
Albert Camus’s masterpiece is a cornerstone of 20th-century literature and the definitive exploration of the philosophy of the Absurd. The book remains important because of its stark, minimalist prose style and its haunting examination of a man who refuses to play by society's moral rules, forcing readers to confront the inherent meaninglessness of existence.
3. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Above Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Amazon UK)
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Amazon UK)
1 / 1
Emma Bovary, the bored wife of a dull provincial doctor, lives in a world of romantic fantasies fueled by the sentimental novels she consumes. Desperate to escape the banality of her rural life, she plunges into reckless passionate affairs and extravagant spending, inevitably charting a path toward her own financial and emotional ruin.
Published in 1856, Madame Bovary is widely considered the first modern realist novel. It caused a massive scandal upon release, leading to a public obscenity trial against Flaubert. The book’s psychological precision, its brilliant satire of middle-class delusions, and Flaubert’s obsession with le mot juste (the exact right word) permanently transformed the art of fiction.
4. In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu) by Marcel Proust
Above In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu) by Marcel Proust, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Penguin Books)
In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu) by Marcel Proust, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Penguin Books)
1 / 1
This monumental seven-volume modernist masterpiece chronicles the life of an aristocratic narrator as he navigates the high-society salons of late 19th and early 20th-century France. The narrative is famously triggered by the taste of a madeleine cake dipped in lime-blossom tea, which unleashes a vast torrent of involuntary childhood memories.
Proust’s work is unique because of its revolutionary stream-of-consciousness style and its unmatched psychological depth. The novel stands as the definitive exploration of memory, the transience of time, the vanity of human relationships and the transformative power of art.
5. The Second Sex (Le Deuxième Sexe) by Simone de Beauvoir
Above The Second Sex (Le Deuxième Sexe) by Simone de Beauvoir, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Amazon.com)
The Second Sex (Le Deuxième Sexe) by Simone de Beauvoir, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Amazon.com)
1 / 1
Simone de Beauvoir’s groundbreaking 1949 treatise is a comprehensive analysis of the oppression of women throughout history, combining philosophy, biology, history and literature. De Beauvoir unpacks how patriarchal societies have consistently positioned men as the “essential” being, while relegating women to the status of the “inessential” or the “other”. Featuring the iconic phrase, “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”, this text laid the foundational framework for second-wave feminism. It remains one of the most important and globally translated non-fiction books of the 20th century, completely revolutionising how gender, identity and personal freedom are studied and understood across cultures.
6. The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) by Alexandre Dumas
Above The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) by Alexandre Dumas, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Etsy)
The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) by Alexandre Dumas, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Etsy)
1 / 1
On the day of his wedding, young, promising sailor Edmond Dantès is wrongfully accused of treason by jealous rivals and imprisoned in the grim fortress of the Château d’If. After enduring 14 years of solitary confinement, he stages a daring escape, unearths a vast hidden treasure and re-emerges into French high society as the mysterious and fabulously wealthy Count of Monte Cristo to exact meticulous revenge.
Dumas’s 1844 classic is the definitive adventure thriller, celebrated for its complex plot, memorable characters, and timeless exploration of justice, mercy, and retribution. It remains a massive global pop-culture influence, setting the standard for the modern revenge narrative across books and film.
7. No Exit (Huis Clos) by Jean-Paul Sartre
Above No Exit (Huis Clos) by Jean-Paul Sartre, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Etsy)
No Exit (Huis Clos) by Jean-Paul Sartre, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Etsy)
1 / 1
This 1944 existentialist play brings together three deceased characters—Garcin, Inez and Estelle—who find themselves locked in a mysterious, plain drawing room decorated in the style of the Second Empire. Expecting traditional instruments of torture in Hell, they gradually come to realise that their true punishment is being trapped together for eternity, forced to reflect on their past crimes.
Featuring the immortal and often misunderstood line, “Hell is other people”, Sartre’s masterpiece is a tight, gripping theatrical experiment. It serves as a highly accessible introduction to existentialist philosophy, demonstrating how human beings are condemned to look at themselves through the judgmental eyes of others.
8. The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Above The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of The Little Prince)
The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of The Little Prince)
1 / 1
Written and illustrated by military pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry whilst living in exile during the Second World War, this extraordinarily tender 1943 novella begins with a stranded aviator who crash-lands in the Sahara Desert. There, he encounters a mysterious young boy—a prince who has traveled from a tiny asteroid named B-612.
Through the prince’s whimsical cosmic encounters with various narrow-minded adults, the story beautifully explores themes of isolation, love, grief and the boundless power of imagination. Le Petit Prince is one of the most-read and most-translated books in the French language. Accompanied by the author’s iconic illustrations, this masterpiece is a universal philosophical parable that gently reminds readers that “what is essential is invisible to the eye”.
9. The Anomaly (L’Anomalie) by Hervé Le Tellier
Above The Anomaly (L’Anomalie) by Hervé Le Tellier, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Penguin Books)
The Anomaly (L’Anomalie) by Hervé Le Tellier, one of the French books to read this Bastille Day (Image: courtesy of Penguin Books)
1 / 1
In June 2021, an Air France flight from Paris to New York survives a violent, supernatural storm over the Atlantic. After landing, the passengers—including a hitman, a pop star and a novelist—resume their lives. A strange phenomenon occurs three months later when the exact same plane, with the exact same passengers, reappears in American airspace, forcing the duplicates to confront one another.
Winner of the prestigious Prix Goncourt, this international bestseller seamlessly blends a sci-fi premise with a deep philosophical inquiry. Written by a member of the Oulipo literary collective, an experimental literary group using constrained writing for creative progress since 1960, The Anomaly stands out for its witty pacing and structural brilliance, operating as a page-turner that forces readers to question identity and reality in the modern digital age.
Topics
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
