A French view of literature.

[Emil Miller]

A poll has been carried out among its readers by the French newspaper Le Figaro, asking them which are the top 10 literary masterpieces of the 20th century. It was published in yesterday's edition. Here are the results:

1. Journey to the end of night.
Celine.
2. In search of lost time.
Proust.
3. The Goulag Archipeligo.
Solzenitsyne.
4. One hundred years of solitude.
Garcia Marquez.
5. Ulysses.
Joyce.
6. The sun also rises.
Hemmingway.
7. The man without qualities.
Musil.
8. The sound and the fury.
Faulkner.
9. Belle du Seigneur.
Cohen.
10.Shared by various works from Kafka, Camus, Hesse. Yourcenar...

What do LitNetters think of the list?

[dfloyd]

unless they are like those of Harold Bloom or Clifton Faciman prepared for a lifetime reading program.

[Emil Miller]

unless they are like those of Harold Bloom or Clifton Faciman prepared for a lifetime reading program.

It is interesting, however, that no English work was selected by the readers even though the list is quite international. 1619 people took part in the poll and there were also polls on architecture and painting/sculpture.

[Desolation]

I'm absolutely thrilled Journey made #1. Looks like France has finally forgiven Celine his rabid anti-semitism and quasi Nazi collaboration.

Also, it's not all that surprising that there aren't any English (by which I assume you mean "from England," as there are 3 English-language books on the list) books on the list, as it is only a top 10 list.

[LitNetIsGreat]

What do LitNetters think of the list?

I think for a public poll it comes across a lot better than some of the others, such as the on the other thread, with the likes of Dan B*o*n and Ayn Rand dominating the top spots? :goof: Interesting to Hemingway in there with Lit Net's moan of the month The Sun Also Rises which I am fond of.

[sixsmith]

I think for a public poll it comes across a lot better than some of the others, such as the on the other thread, with the likes of Dan B*o*n and Ayn Rand dominating the top spots? :goof: Interesting to Hemingway in there with Lit Net's moan of the month The Sun Also Rises which I am fond of.

Yes, it's a very fine list by comparison. Indeed, it's a pretty good list full stop.

[MANICHAEAN]

Its perhaps easier to understand the French appreciation of " The Sun Also Rises" / "Fiesta" when you consider that Book 1 is based on Jake Barnes & his post war American ex pat crowd, living it up in Paris. Throw in the Hemingway undercurrents of emotions is a sure way to get French interest!

[loe]

In my opinion this is a rather good selection.
Of course, Proust would be my number one and I hope that Sartre is mentioned somewhere under 10 at least.

"The sun also rises" is my favourite of Hemingway's books, therefore I'm glad to see it mentioned instead of "For whom the bell tolls" (although this is a good book as well).

As far as I'm concerned I'm not sooo fond of One hundred years of solitude and wouldn't have added it to this list.

Best regards

[LitNetIsGreat]

Its perhaps easier to understand the French appreciation of " The Sun Also Rises" / "Fiesta" when you consider that Book 1 is based on Jake Barnes & his post war American ex pat crowd, living it up in Paris. Throw in the Hemingway undercurrents of emotions is a sure way to get French interest!

Yes, I did consider this, the setting is bound to influence to some degree.



As far as I'm concerned I'm not sooo fond of One hundred years of solitude and wouldn't have added it to this list.


Yes I actually started reading this and put it down after a while, didn't really take to it.