Francophone literature
Encyclopedia
Francophone literature is literature
written in the French language
. Most often the term is misused to refer only to literature from francophone
countries outside France
, but this category includes French Literature
, or Literature of France, that is literature written by French authors. Francophone literature therefore applies to the whole French-speaking world in the broadest sense of the term. In fact, the family includes all literature in French from countries where French is the native language (as in France
, Canada
, and part of Belgium
, the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and Switzerland
), where it is the official language (eg. in schools and government, see Morocco
, Algeria
, Tunisia
, sixteen countries in West Africa
, and a good portion of central Africa
) or where it is just a vehicular language (eg. used for business purposes).
Francophone literature may refer to aspects of:
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
written in the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Most often the term is misused to refer only to literature from francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
countries outside France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, but this category includes French Literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
, or Literature of France, that is literature written by French authors. Francophone literature therefore applies to the whole French-speaking world in the broadest sense of the term. In fact, the family includes all literature in French from countries where French is the native language (as in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and part of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
), where it is the official language (eg. in schools and government, see Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, sixteen countries in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, and a good portion of central Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
) or where it is just a vehicular language (eg. used for business purposes).
Francophone literature may refer to aspects of:
- Literature of French-speaking European countries
- Literature of FranceFrench literatureFrench literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
- Literature of BelgiumBelgian literatureBecause Belgium is a multilingual country,French, Dutch and German are legally the three official languages in Belgium see: EU-Belgium Belgian literature is divided into two main linguistic branches following the two most prominently spoken languages in the country - Dutch and French...
- Literature of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
- Literature of SwitzerlandSwiss literatureThere is no such thing as a Swiss national vernacular literature, as there is no dominant national language. The four main languages of French, Italian, German and Romansch form the four branches which make up a literature of Switzerland...
- Literature of France
- Literature of Canada
- List of French Canadian writers from outside Quebec
- Literature of Quebec
- List of Quebec authors
- Literature of French-speaking Caribbean countries and dependencies
- Literature of Haiti
- Literature of Guadeloupe
- Literature of Martinique
- Literature of Francophone Africa
- Literature of AlgeriaLiterature of AlgeriaAlgerian literature has been influenced by many cultures, including the ancient Romans, Arabs, French and Spanish, as well as the indigenous people...
- Literature of BeninLiterature of BeninBeninese literature had a strong oral tradition long before French became the dominant language.Felix Couchoro wrote the first Beninese novel, L'Esclave in 1929.-Notable Beninese writers:*Olympe Bhêly-Quénum*Jean Pliya*Colette Senami Agossou Houeto...
- Literature of Burkina FasoLiterature of Burkina FasoBurkinabé literature was originally based around oral tradition. This remains important. In 1934, during French occupation, Dim-Dolobsom Ouedraogo published his Maximes, pensées et devinettes mossi , a record of the oral history of the Mossi people...
- Literature of Burundi
- Literature of Cameroun
- Literature of the Central African Republic
- Literature of ChadLiterature of ChadChadian literature has suffered greatly from the turmoil which has engulfed the country, economical and political. As with many cultures, literature in Chad began with folk tales and legends. While French is the dominant language, Arabic is also used by some Chadian writers...
- Literature of the Comoros
- Literature of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Literature of the Republic of the Congo
- Literature of Côte d'Ivoire
- Literature of Djibouti
- Literature of Gabon
- Literature of Guinea
- Literature of Madagascar
- Literature of Mali
- Literature of Mauritania
- Literature of Mauritius
- Literature of MoroccoLiterature of MoroccoMoroccan literature is a literature written in Arabic, Berber, French or Spanish and of course particularly by people of Morocco, but also of Al-Andalus.- 1000 - 1500:...
- Literature of Niger
- Literature of RwandaLiterature of RwandaRwandan literature is a literature both oral and written in Kinyarwanda, or French, particularly by citizens of Rwanda.-Background:Rwanda's literary history is largely an oral one. The traditional texts were classed in two main categories: more formal, royal documents, which are described as...
- Literature of Réunion
- Literature of SenegalLiterature of SenegalThe Literature of Senegal is among the most important in West Africa. Most works are written in French, but there are also works in Arabic and Wolof....
- Literature of the Seychelles
- Literature of Togo
- Literature of Tunisia
- Postcolonial literature
- List of African writers (by country)
- Literature of Algeria
Examples of francophone writers
- List of French language poets
- List of French language authors
- Georges SimenonGeorges SimenonGeorges Joseph Christian Simenon was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 200 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known for the creation of the fictional detective Maigret.-Early life and education:...
(BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) - Maurice MaeterlinckMaurice MaeterlinckMaurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck, also called Comte Maeterlinck from 1932, was a Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist who wrote in French. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. The main themes in his work are death and the meaning of life...
(Belgium) - Léopold Sédar SenghorLéopold Sédar SenghorLéopold Sédar Senghor was a Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist who for two decades served as the first president of Senegal . Senghor was the first African elected as a member of the Académie française. Before independence, he founded the political party called the Senegalese...
(SenegalSenegalSenegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
) - Samuel BeckettSamuel BeckettSamuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
(IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
) - Blaise CendrarsBlaise CendrarsFrédéric Louis Sauser , better known as Blaise Cendrars, was a Swiss novelist and poet naturalized French in 1916. He was a writer of considerable influence in the modernist movement.-Early years:...
(SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) - Émile NelliganÉmile NelliganÉmile Nelligan was a francophone poet from Quebec, Canada.-Biography:Nelligan was born in Montreal on December 24, 1879 at 602, rue de La Gauchetière. He was the first son of David Nelligan, who arrived in Quebec from Dublin, Ireland at the age of 12. His mother was Émilie Amanda Hudon, from...
(CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
)
See also
- La FrancophonieLa FrancophonieFrancophonie is an international organization of politics and governments with French as the mother or customary language, where a significant proportion of people are francophones , or where there is a notable affiliation with the French language or culture.Formally known as the Organisation...