French literature of the 19th century

I’m looking for suggestions as to what to read next after suffering panic attacks while reading Guy de Maupassant’s Bel Ami.:eek2: I have ordered Pierre and Jean, and Une Vie, but I want to read something along similar lines by different authors. I only have time for about 8/10 other novels really, as I need to be getting on with other reading. I am looking mainly for prose, as I am reading Baudelaire and a few of the French Symbolists in verse, but I am open to other areas of literature or philosophy, art, music etc, if it is essential to understanding, but I am mainly fishing for prose “musts”.

Perhaps the logical choice is to read some of Zola's novels, but which ones? Or perhaps I should turn to Flaubert’s Sentimental Education as a priority?

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

I do not think you will go wrongly if you read Nerval and Merimee besides the obvious (Flaubert, Balzac, Hugo, Mallarme, Lautreamont, Gautier, Rimbaud, Verlaine)...

If you have just finished Bel-Ami, the logical book would be L'Education Sentimentale written by Maupassant's mentor Flaubert. It is a terrific novel by any standards but it's style is quite different from Maupassant's writing and a more suitable follow-up would be Zola's L'assommoir or Therese Raquin which convey the same intensely parisian atmosphere.

Yes I have considered both of those, I'll add them to the list, thanks.

Perhaps Stendhal's The Red and the Black among the other suggestions above.

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Originally Posted by March Hare

Perhaps Stendhal's The Red and the Black among the other suggestions above.

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Yes, another great one.

Check also Gautier's tales (and poetry), Lautreaomnt's Maldoror, and don't forget Nerval or Balzac.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I have several on order now.

Given some of the names listed already, I am surprised that no-one has mentioned Dumas.

Yes, we did. We said Nerval...

Yes, we did. We said Nerval...

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

You have received many worthy suggestions, and I would like to second and place emphasis upon two in particular, Flaubert and Balzac. Good stuff! :nod:
Also, I have heard great things about George Sand, but have never gotten around to reading her - perhaps something to keep in mind.

Yes you can always rely on people here for good suggestions.

I have ordered both the Maupassant novels, the Flaubert and Zola's Therese Raquinand. I have Maldoror and The Red and Black on standby and I have pencilled in the other suggestions. I have read a little Balzac before, but I shall strongly consider him in there too. It all depends on how long it takes me to read them before ordering the others, because I must get on with my Milton really, but as I am on holiday I should be able to race through them, with few distractions.

Just waiting for the postman to bring my goodies, don't you just love it when you are waiting for a delivery?

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Originally Posted by mono

Also, I have heard great things about George Sand, but have never gotten around to reading her - perhaps something to keep in mind.

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How about "Francois le Champi"?

Maupassant had that effect on me too! Sentimental Education is a good bet.