French Language and Literature Resources

FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE RESOURCES

ELECTRONIC INDEXES & ABSTRACTS

REFERENCE BOOKS

This guide to conducting research in French Language and Literature is designed as an introduction to basic available reference tools. The Reference books listed are found on the second floor of the Weinberg Library near the Reference Desk. The books listed are suggestions as a starting place for your research. You may also use the Online Public Catalog to find information on cultural groups that can be checked-out from the circulating collection.

The following are accessible from the Weinberg Memorial Library “Databases and Journals” webpage.
Just look for “Databases by Title” from the Library’s main menu.

Lexis-Nexis
Provides fulltext articles from French-language newspapers and wire services. Just click on LexisNexis; choose News from the menu. Under “Select a News Category” choose “Non-English Language News.” Next choose “French Language News.” When searching use French (not English) keywords, but use English language Boolean operators (and, or, not).

MLA Directory of Periodicals
An online index for literary journals and selected books. Covers all languages and literatures including French. Covers publications from 1963 to present. Not full-text, but MLA is the premiere database to search for literary criticism.

FRENCH-ENGLISH DICTIONARIES

Collins Robert Comprehensive French-English Dictionary.
Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers, 1995. 2 vols. (REF PC 2640 .C684 1995) -- This is just one of many French-English English-French dictionaries in our Library.

Oxford-Duden Pictorial French-English Dictionary.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1983. (REF PC 2680 .O93 1983) -- Presents a picture of a place, thing, or situation, giving French and English words for the component parts.

Denoeu, François. 2001 French and English Idioms.
Woodbury, New York: Barron’s Educational Series, 1982. (REF PC 2640 .D42 1982) -- Provides French-English equivalents of idiomatic expressions.

Brunet, François and Declan McCavana. Dictionnaire Bilingue de l’Argot D’Aujourd’hui: Bilingual Dictionary of Today’s Slang. Paris: Pocket, 1996. (REF PE 3721 .B78 1996) – The Library has several slang dictionaries. Keep in mind slang can go in and out of date quickly.

Boudjedid-Meyer, M. Dictionary of American English Colloquial Phrases and Expressions. New York: Hippocrene Books, 1998. (REF PC 2640 .B68 1998) -- Includes figures of speech, colloquialisms, etc. French-English and English-French.

FRENCH DICTIONARIES

Littré, Emile. Dictionnaire de la Langue Française. Paris: Gallimard, 1963.
7 vols. (REF PC 2625 .L63)

Robert, Paul. Dictionnaire Alphabétique et Analogique de la Langue Française. Paris: Société du Nouveau Littré le Robert, 1966) 6 vols. (REF PC 2625 .R552) -- Called LE ROBERT.

Le Dictionnaire de Notre Temps. Paris: Hachette, 1993. (REF AG 25 .D5238 1993) -- Main part is a regular dictionary. Second part (yellow pages) features special sections on new French words, words from French-speaking countries other than France, rules of grammars, sports, maps, etc.

Dictionnaire Universel Francophone. Paris: Hachette/Edicef, 1997. (REF PC 2625 .D54 1997) – Includes vocabulary from French-speaking countries around the world.

SPECIALIZED FRENCH DICTIONARIES

Goursau, Henri. Dictionnaire Technique et Scientifique. Saint-Orens-de-Gameville: H. Goursau, 1994. (REF T 10 .G68 1994) -- Translations of French and English technical and scientific words.

Routledge French Technical Dictionary: Dictionnaire Technique Anglais. London: Routledge, 1994. 2 vols. (REF PC 2640 .R687 1994) -- Translations of French and English technical words.

Baleyte, Jean, et al. Dictionnaire Économique et Juridique: Economic and Legal Dictionary. 3rd edition. Paris: L.G.D.J., 1992. (REF K 52 .F7 D52 1992) – Economic and legal terms translated.

Gladstone, William J. Dictionnaire Anglais-Français des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales. 5th edition. [Acton-Vale, Québec]: Edisem, 2002. (REF R 121 .G525 2002) -- Translates English medical words and terminology into French.

FRENCH-ENGLISH BUSINESS DICTIONARIES AND HANDBOOKS

Anderla, Georges. Dictionnaire des Affaires, Anglais-Français, Français-Anglais. Paris: J. Delmas, 1972. (REF HF 1002 .A5)

Larousse Business Dictionnaire/Dictionary: English-French, Français-Anglais. Middlesex: Peter Collin Publishing, 1990. (REF HF 1002 .L3 1990)

Laurendeau-Collin, Françoise, et al, eds. Harrap’s French and English Business Dictionary. London: Harrap, 1981. (REF HF 1002 .C58 1981)

Marcheteau, Michel, et al. Dictionnaire de l’Anglais Économique Commercial et Financier. Paris: Presses Pocket, 1988. (REF PC 2120 .C6 D5)

Péron, Michel, et al. Le Robert & Collins du Management: Dictionnaire Français-Anglais Anglais-Français/French-English English-French Dictionary. Paris: Dictionnaires Le Robert, 1992.
(REF HF 1002 .R54 1992)

Routledge French Dictionary of Business, Commerce and Finance: Dictionnaire Anglais des Affaires, du Commerce et de la Finance. New York: Routledge Reference, 1996. (REF HF 1002 .R684 1996)

Garcia, Anne-Marie, et al. French-English Bilingual Guide to Business and Professional Correspondence. New York: Pergamon Press, 1989. (REF HF 5726 .G28 1988) – Guide to French and English phrases found in business correspondence, billing, etc. Arranged in subject categories.

Geoghegan, Crispin Michael et al. La Correspondance Commerciale en Anglais. Paris: Presses Pocket, 1981. (REF PC 2120 .C6 C6) – Guide to French and English business phrases and terminology.

Girault, Odile. Correspondance et Techniques d’Expression Professionnelles. Paris: Les Éditions Foucher, 1984. (REF PC 2120 .C6 C57) -- Shows examples of French business forms, letters, etc.

FRENCH THESAURUSES

Boussinot, Roger. Dictionnaire Bordas des Synonymes, Analogies, Antonymes. Paris: Bordas, 1981. (REF PC 2591 .B687 1986)

Genouvrier, Émile, et al. Nouveau Dictionnaire des Synonymes. Paris: Larousse, 1992.
(REF PC 2591 .G4 1992)

Thésaurus Larousse: Des Idées aux Mots, Des Mots aux Idées. Paris: Larousse, 1992.
(REF PC 2591 .T47 1992)

FRENCH GRAMMARS

Grevisse, Maurice. Le Bon Usage. Paris: Duculot, 1980. (REF PC 2112 .G84 1980)

L’Art de Conjuguer: Dictionnaire de Douze Mille Verbes. Paris: Libraire Hatier, 1980.
(REF PC 2271 .B4 1980)

Morton, Jacqueline. English Grammar for Students of French: The Study Guide for Those Learning French. 2nd ed. Ann Arbor, MI: Olivia and Hill Press, 1987. (PC 2111 .M67 1987)

FRENCH ENCYCLOPEDIAS

Encyclopaedia Universalis. Paris: Encyclopaedia Universalis France S.A., 1990. (REF AE 25 .E3 1990) -- Our most current multi-volume French encyclopedia. This encyclopedia is divided into several sections. Volumes marked “Corpus” contain lengthy entries on major topics. Volumes marked “Thesaurus/Index” contain short entries on minor topics and act as an index to the entire set. (It is probably a good idea to begin a search with these volumes.) Volumes labeled “les enjeux” contain very lengthy essays on world trends and new developments in knowledge. The volume labeled “Les chiffres du Monde” contains statistics on countries around the world.

The Encyclopaedia Universalis is also available at our Library on CD-ROM. This is a more recent edition (2001). It also has added features such as media, videos, etc. If you are unsure how to access it or have questions, please inquire at the Reference Desk (second floor).

Grand Larousse Encyclopédique. Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1960. – 10 vols. & supplement.
(REF AE 25 .G64)

Dictionnaire Universel des Noms Propres Alphabétique et Analogique. Paris: Société du Nouveau Littré, 1976. (REF AE 25 .R6) – 4 vols. Mainly people and places.

Dictionnaire des Oeuvres de Tous les Temps et de Tous les Pays: Littérature, Philosophie, Musique, Sciences. Paris: Société d’Édition de Dictionnaires et Encyclopédies, 1968. (REF AE 25 .D52)

Larousse Trois Volumes en Couleurs. Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1970. (REF AG 25 .L26) -- 3 vols.

Encyclopédie Alphabétique Larousse Omnis. Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1977. (REF AG 25 .E53)

Frémy, Dominique and Michèle Frémy. Quid 2001. Paris: Éditions Robert Laffont, 2001.
(REF AE 25 .F75 2001) -- One volume, but our most up-to-date print French encyclopedia.

FRENCH LITERATURE – DICTIONARIES, GUIDES, ETC

Beaumarchais, J.-P. de, et al. Dictionnaire des Littératures de Langue Française. Paris: Bordas, 1984. (REF PQ 41 .B4 1984) – 3 vols. Arranged alphabetically. Covers all time periods.

Grente, Georges. Dictionnaire des Lettres Françaises. Paris: Libraire Arthème Fayard, 1950.
(REF PQ 41 .D53) – Our library has volumes on only the Middle Ages, and the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries.

Lagarde, André. Les Grands Auteurs Français. Paris: Bordas, 1971. (REF PQ 1109 .L24) -- An anthology and guide to French literature. Arranged chronologically.

Malignon, Jean. Dictionnaire des Écrivains Français. Paris: Éditions du Seuil, 1971. (REF PQ 41 .M3) -- Long entries on French authors of all time periods. Arranged alphabetically.

Boisdeffre, Pierre de, ed. Dictionnaire de Littérature Contemporaine, 1900-1962. Paris: Éditions Universitaires, 1962. (REF PQ 305 .B54) -- Arranged alphabetically. Covers first half of twentieth century.

Bonnefoy, Claude. Dictionnaire de Littérature Française Contemporaine. Paris: Jean-Pierre Delarge, 1977. (REF PQ 305 .B584) -- Covers authors of the twentieth century.

Bourin, André and Jean Rousselot. Dictionnaire de la Littérature Française Contemporaine. Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1966. (REF PQ 41 .B6) -- Identifies authors, literary movements, etc., of the twentieth century.

Girard, Marcel. Guide Illustré de la Littérature Française Moderne de 1918 à 1949. Paris: Pierre Seghers, 1949. (REF PQ 305 .G5) -- Arranged chronologically.

Hamel, Réginald, et al. Dictionnaire des Auteurs de Langue Française en Amérique du Nord. Montreal: Éditions Fides, 1989. (REF PQ 3900.2 .H36 1989) – Alphabetically arranged entries on North American (mostly Canadian) authors writing in French.

Dictionnaire des Littératures Française et Étrangères. Paris: Larousse, 1992.
(REF PN 41 .D487 1992) -- Very short entries on authors, literary terms, etc. Covers both French and world literature.

Dictionnaire Biographique des Auteurs. Paris: Société d’Édition de Dictionnaires et Encyclopédies, 1964. (REF PN 41 .D48 1964) – 2 vols. Short entries on authors both French and international.

MISCELLANEOUS

Les Livres Disponibles 2002: French Books in Print. Paris: Electre, 2002. (REF Z 2161 .L8 2002) -- 6 vols. Lists books currently in print. Arranged by author, title, and subject. Also lists French publishers.

MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS IN FRENCH

AFRIQUE MAGAZINE
ÉTUDES LITTÉRAIRES
L’EXPRESS
LE FRANÇAIS DANS LE MONDE
FRANCE-AMÉRIQUE (newspaper)
FRENCH REVIEW
JOURNAL FRANÇAIS D’AMÉRIQUE (newspaper)
LIRE
LE MONDE (newspaper)
LE NOUVEL ÉCONOMISTE (newspaper)
PARIS-MATCH
REVUE DES SCIENCES HUMAINES
REVUE D’HISTOIRE LITTÉRAIRE DE LA FRANCE