Some classical French novels include 'Manon Lescaut' by Abbé Prévost. It's a story of love and passion. 'Paul et Virginie' by Bernardin de Saint - Pierre is another one. It has a more idyllic and sentimental tone, set in a colonial context. And 'Gil Blas' by Alain - René Lesage, which is a picaresque novel following the adventures of the title character through different social strata.
Another is 'Père Goriot' by Honoré de Balzac. It focuses on the character of Père Goriot, an old man who sacrifices everything for his daughters in Parisian society. The novel gives a vivid picture of the greed, vanity, and social hierarchies in Paris during the Restoration period.
One of the famous ones is 'Against Nature' by Joris - Karl Huysmans. It is a prime example of the decadent movement in French literature, with its exploration of extreme aestheticism and a character's retreat from society into a world of self - indulgent and often perverse sensibilities.
One of the most famous classic French sci - fi novels is 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' by Jules Verne. It takes readers on an exciting adventure deep beneath the Earth's surface. Another is 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea', also by Verne, which explores the mysteries of the ocean depths. 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells, though Wells was English, had a great influence on French sci - fi and is often compared to French works in the genre.
One of the famous Classical Latin novels is 'The Golden Ass' by Apuleius. It tells a story full of adventures, magic, and transformation. Another is Petronius' 'Satyricon', which gives a vivid picture of Roman society at that time, with its diverse characters and satirical elements.
Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes is also a classic. It follows the adventures of a deluded knight and his squire, Sancho Panza. It's a humorous and at the same time thought - provoking exploration of idealism and reality.
Some well - known classical literature novels include 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. It's a story about love and marriage in the 19th - century English society. Another one is 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, which is an epic tale of a captain's obsession with a white whale. Also, 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes is a famous Spanish novel that follows the adventures of a deluded knight.
A well - known one is 'La Machine à Explorer le Temps' (The Time - exploring Machine). It's about time travel and all the possibilities and paradoxes that come with it. Another is 'Les Fourmis' (The Ants), which looks at the world from the perspective of ants in a somewhat science - fictional way. There's also 'The Cyberiad' which has a lot of imaginative ideas about robotics and artificial intelligence.
Well, 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' is quite well - known. It's a story of seduction and manipulation in the upper echelons of French society. Then there's 'Le Rouge et le Noir' by Stendhal. The main character, Julien Sorel, experiences love in a complex social environment. His relationships are shaped by his ambition and the strict class system of the time.
One of the well - known heroes in French spy novels could be Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, also known as OSS 117. He has been a popular character in French spy literature. He is often depicted as a suave and resourceful spy, able to handle all kinds of dangerous and complex situations with ease.
Definitely 'Madame Bovary'. It's famous for its portrayal of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage and her search for something more. Everyone who studies French literature has likely read it.