The authors, of course, come from all over. From Morocco, Iran, Mauritius, and Quebec, to name a few. Due to immigration and imperialism, the French language is ever-present in countries around the world. For this list, I decided to focus on authors who are based within the country of France and the region of Quebec, Canada; I plan for future lists that will include many other countries in which French is widely spoken. As always, reading for this list was a joy. From Besson’s fierce yearning to the magnetic orbit of Devi’s Eve to the visceral pain of Diop’s descriptions of war, these 16 books represent some of the best of French literature available in English translation for our lucky bookshelves. Happy reading! Please note that while I took great care to list content warnings where I could, sometimes things fall through the cracks. Please do additional research on the recommended titles if needed. For more books in translation, check out my list of 20 must-read queer books in translation from around the world, or browse my lists of Argentinian and Catalan books available in English translation. Content warnings for rape, sexism, ableism, fatphobia, drug use, the ‘R’ slur, racism, radicalization, terrorism, violence. Content warnings for rape, rape culture, trauma, homophobia, femicide, murder, domestic violence and abuse, profiling, suicidal ideation. Content warnings for body horror, graphic violence, torture, rape mention, and racism. Content warnings for gambling addiction, drugs. Content warnings for homophobia, racism, violence. Content warnings for homophobic language and suicide. Content warnings for animal death, domestic abuse, grooming, parental death, self-harm, violence, disordered eating. Content warnings for persecution, antisemitism, violence. Content warnings for violence, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, political exile, and Islamophobia. Content warnings for sexual abuse and exploitation, alcoholism, rape, miscarriage, child neglect and abuse. Content warnings for homophobia, explicit sex, graphic sex. Content warnings for suicide, sudden family death. Content warnings for graphic violence, anti-Arab racism and violence, alcoholism, animal cruelty and death, rape threat, slut-shaming, torture, PTSD. Content warnings for violence. Content warnings for violence, murder, torture, and discussions of sexual assault, political extremism, and religious extremism.
