French Literature Reviews - 2026
The Novel Character.
Novel and Narrative Prose
THE NOVEL CHARACTER [2007]. Anthology compiled and commented by Jean Bardet, 272 pages, ill., illustrated cover, 124 x 177 mm. La Bibliothèque Gallimard Collection (No 200), Gallimard -anth. ISBN 9782070345557. Published: 30-08-2007. €5.80
Abstract
A few lines, a few striking traits, a few adventures, and suddenly they spring to life before our eyes: Don Quixote the dreamer, Jacques the Fatalist, Rastignac the ambitious... Whether they make us laugh, frighten us, or make us dream, we sometimes forget that literary characters are not made of flesh and blood. Creatures of paper? Puppets in the hands of novelists? Mirrors of humanity and society? They draw us deep into the universe of the novel, with all its charms—and its illusions... Accept the invitation; you will not be disappointed!
The critical commentary traces the history of the character from Cervantes to Danièle Sallenave. The author highlights the connections between the conception of the human figure (from the Cartesian subject to the fragmented ego of psychoanalysis) and that of the novelistic genre (from the heroic novel to the *Nouveau Roman*, passing through realism). Numerous excerpts from critical texts enrich the discussion and invite a structural approach to the novel.
Anthology (110 texts) recommended for high school juniors (Première class).
The study of character construction remains a central concern in literary history, reflecting shifting philosophical and psychological conceptions of the individual. From the early modern period to the twentieth century, the representation of the human figure in fiction has evolved alongside broader intellectual transitions, moving from the coherent Cartesian subject toward the fragmented identities explored in modern psychoanalysis. This anthology situates these developments within the history of the novelistic genre, tracing a trajectory that encompasses the heroic tradition, the conventions of realism, and the experimental techniques of the Nouveau Roman.
This volume, compiled by Jean Bardet, includes 110 texts and critical commentary tracing the history of the character from Cervantes to Danièle Sallenave. The work examines the connections between the conception of the human figure and the evolution of the novelistic genre. It addresses how characters function as both literary devices and reflections of society. Readers interested in the history of narrative techniques and the development of the novelistic form may find this collection relevant.