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The Giants of French Literature : Balzac, Flaubert, Proust, and Camus
Book on 7 CDs. The Giants of French Literature
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 1, 2017
Loved it. The instructor was very engaging.
July 7, 2012
Top of the line. A great discussion of the subject with a marvelous thoughtful summation. It provides intelligent exposure to authors you have likely not read, and gives you reasons to find the books discussed to read them for yourself.
June 9, 2011
I found this audiobook totally by chance: another library user had left the catalog open to this item. It sound interesting and the person had not checked it out, so I did!
It’s part of the Modern Scholar Series, an interesting series of lectures on all kinds of topics, by excellent teachers.
This teacher focuses on Balzac, Flaubert, Proust, and Camus.
She highlights what’s specific to that author, presents some of his major works, and draws interesting parallels between these 4 novelists.
I have to say, though I read and studied most of the works presented here many years ago, these classes were better than most of the classes I received by French teachers back in France!
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Emma @ Words And Peace
It’s part of the Modern Scholar Series, an interesting series of lectures on all kinds of topics, by excellent teachers.
This teacher focuses on Balzac, Flaubert, Proust, and Camus.
She highlights what’s specific to that author, presents some of his major works, and draws interesting parallels between these 4 novelists.
I have to say, though I read and studied most of the works presented here many years ago, these classes were better than most of the classes I received by French teachers back in France!
Original post:
http://rocksbyemmanuelle.wordpress.co...
Emma @ Words And Peace
March 24, 2013
3.5 stars. Book discussions are never quite as interesting when you haven't read the books being discussed. The professor chose Balzac, Flaubert, Proust and Camus as the four main giants of French literature. She gave an overview of their lives and works, and specifically analyzed one or two books by each author. Of those, I'd only read Flaubert's Madame Bovary, and I didn't like it.
Still, I appreciated her enthusiasm and passion for the subject. I also now have a greater interest in reading both Proust and Camus.
I kept wondering how a book on the greatest authors of French lit could exclude Victor Hugo. She mentions him, but only in passing (comparing him to Dickens).
Still, I appreciated her enthusiasm and passion for the subject. I also now have a greater interest in reading both Proust and Camus.
I kept wondering how a book on the greatest authors of French lit could exclude Victor Hugo. She mentions him, but only in passing (comparing him to Dickens).
July 18, 2011
After reading book after book in my personal study of French literature, it was very nice to have someone educated connect the dots for me. Literature is not written in a vacuum and it was very insightful to see how Balzac influenced Floubert, who in turn influenced Proust and later Camus. As a writer in Paris, Camus is a hard act to follow, though like Camus, I have read the great authors before me.
January 25, 2018
Elkins at her best is a very compelling teacher
June 18, 2023
This was fun to listen to. It came as a freebie on my audible.com account.
I enjoy Balzac well enough, but he isn’t a favorite. You never really get inside his characters’ minds, and he tends to blather excessively about physical details in the environment. Elkins showed me that he provided a big kickstart to the realist movement in novels, featuring the lives of everyday people rather than bored aristocrats. I wouldn’t mind trying one or two more of his books.
Flaubert is one of my favorite writers. Elkins talks about “free indirect discourse” as Flaubert’s great invention: the reader occupies a position partly inside and partly outside the characters’ minds. This distinguishes him from Balzac, who remained outside his characters’ minds and freely moralized about their actions. Flaubert scrupulously withholds judgment on the way his characters opt to behave. Flaubert is very much the beginning of modern fiction.
Like 90% of people who have read any Proust, I have only read Volume One of In Search of Lost Time. Elkins admires Proust, especially his belief that art can provide a means for people to gain meaning and transcendence in their lives. I’m not sure I fully believe this, but Elkins made me feel at least 10% more like reading beyond Volume One.
I’ve read what I suppose are the most common works by Camus: The Myth of Sisyphus, The Stranger, The Plague, and The Fall (I like this last one best.) One of his books of essays, The Rebel, sits on my shelf unread. It’s always been my feeling that the value of existentialism is exaggerated. This could be my flaw – I may not understand the stuff. But, typically, with either Camus or Sartre, I’ll read something that is meant to be deep and I either just don’t get it or, if I think I get it, it does nothing for me. I’m a completist by nature, though, so I’m pretty sure that someday I’ll take The Rebel off the shelf for a spin around the block.
I enjoy Balzac well enough, but he isn’t a favorite. You never really get inside his characters’ minds, and he tends to blather excessively about physical details in the environment. Elkins showed me that he provided a big kickstart to the realist movement in novels, featuring the lives of everyday people rather than bored aristocrats. I wouldn’t mind trying one or two more of his books.
Flaubert is one of my favorite writers. Elkins talks about “free indirect discourse” as Flaubert’s great invention: the reader occupies a position partly inside and partly outside the characters’ minds. This distinguishes him from Balzac, who remained outside his characters’ minds and freely moralized about their actions. Flaubert scrupulously withholds judgment on the way his characters opt to behave. Flaubert is very much the beginning of modern fiction.
Like 90% of people who have read any Proust, I have only read Volume One of In Search of Lost Time. Elkins admires Proust, especially his belief that art can provide a means for people to gain meaning and transcendence in their lives. I’m not sure I fully believe this, but Elkins made me feel at least 10% more like reading beyond Volume One.
I’ve read what I suppose are the most common works by Camus: The Myth of Sisyphus, The Stranger, The Plague, and The Fall (I like this last one best.) One of his books of essays, The Rebel, sits on my shelf unread. It’s always been my feeling that the value of existentialism is exaggerated. This could be my flaw – I may not understand the stuff. But, typically, with either Camus or Sartre, I’ll read something that is meant to be deep and I either just don’t get it or, if I think I get it, it does nothing for me. I’m a completist by nature, though, so I’m pretty sure that someday I’ll take The Rebel off the shelf for a spin around the block.
March 22, 2022
Even though the author and I have differing views on literature -- she seems to adore literature, to try and find something worthwhile in every piece she reads even if she doesn't understand the rave; while I'm here hating on perfectly good works, because something about them bugged me. So even despite this, the lectures were interesting; and her evocative explanations might be the reason why I attempt to reread Flaubert some day; and definitely why I'll read Proust.
*A thing that bugged me: incorrect(?) pronunciation of 'nihilism' and 'Karamazov'.
*A thing that bugged me: incorrect(?) pronunciation of 'nihilism' and 'Karamazov'.
February 15, 2025
Professor Katherine Elkins is the author and narrator of this fabulous listen.
Whether you know a lot or none about the Balzac, Flaubert, Proust and Camus, my knowledge comes from university literature assignments, so this is interesting and informative ear candy, that should be enjoyed at a snails pace for pleasure and erudition, as these gentlemen made a difference to our world.
Thank you for your collected words Professor Katherine Elkins, very much appreciated (-:
Whether you know a lot or none about the Balzac, Flaubert, Proust and Camus, my knowledge comes from university literature assignments, so this is interesting and informative ear candy, that should be enjoyed at a snails pace for pleasure and erudition, as these gentlemen made a difference to our world.
Thank you for your collected words Professor Katherine Elkins, very much appreciated (-:
September 22, 2025
The Giants of French Literature by Katherine Elkins is an enjoyable overview of four authors that produced several of France's landmark works. Elkins is clearly engaged with this genre and wants to share her passion. My respect for Camus grew through the course, which may make a friend of mine I haven't spoken to in quite a while very happy. Otherwise, it was just an enjoyable survey. The kind you pick up when you're curious about something and maybe want to dive a little deeper.
January 31, 2021
Elkins is a little breathless as she romps through four French novelists and their contributions to the world of art. I've read some of each of these authors and will continue to read some more, so I enjoyed some of the broader insights into their works. I'm ready to start book three of Proust, and will do another Flaubert (It's been years since Madam Bovary).
July 16, 2023
This is a good exploration of these authors and I enjoyed listening to these lectures. I am not much of a fan of the ideas supported by the authors covered. They lean a bit too much toward inaction and equivocation in my opinion. However, the lecturer helped me appreciate the authors and their influences.
February 3, 2025
French literature is degenerate
July 20, 2012
Better than i expected, but as evedent as the proffesors pasion for the subject is I just couldnt get interested
September 6, 2012
LOVED this book, especially the author's writing and reading.
Wish she wrote more.
Wish she wrote more.
June 8, 2017
a fine set of lectures, makes me want to reread some of the classics it discusses.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews