Foreign Language Study : French

This book offers an in-depth study of the autobiographical writings of four twentieth-century writers from North Africa, Assia Djebar, Mouloud Feraoun, Abdelkébir Khatibi and Albert Memmi, as they explore issues of language, identity and the individual’s relationship to history. The book places these writers in a clearly defined theoretical context, introducing and contextualising each of the four through the application of postcolonial studies and literary theory on autobiography linked to close textual reading of their works. Avoiding both psychoanalytical theory and approaches concerned primarily with the writer’s ‘testimony value’, Kelly concentrates instead on the poetic and literary qualities of each author’s work, dwelling on the politics and poetics of identity, as well as the ethics and aesthetics of this literature. She includes clear discussions of key terms such as ‘postcolonial’, ‘Francophone’, and ‘autobiography’, which current academic discourse has rendered very complex and even opaque. The book includes a fascinating photograph of two stone tablets inscribed with Punic and Numidian scripts, now held in the British Museum, which Assia Djebar writes about at length in one of the texts studied in the book. more...

Price: $85.00

As the most successful female writer from Francophone Africa, Calixthe Beyala occupies an unusual place in French literary and popular culture. Her novels are bestsellers, and she appears regularly on French television and radio, yet her reputation has in recent years been tarnished by allegations of plagiarism. She is lauded both as a consecrated, best-selling ‘authentic’ African author and a proven literary ‘fake’, found guilty of plagiarism in the High Court in Paris but in the same year awarded the highly prestigious Grand Prix du roman de l’Académie Française for one of the novels in which she had allegedly plagiarized. In Calixthe Beyala , Nicki Hitchcott considers Beyala as an icon and a writer. She explores representations of Beyala in the media, the varied critical responses to her writing, and Beyala’s efforts to position herself as a champion of women’s rights in Africa. Hitchcott pays equal attention to the novels themselves, tracing their explorations of the role of migration in the creation of personal identity. Calixthe Beyala is a nuanced attempt to understand the work – and public role – of one of the most important women writing today. more...

Price: $70.00

The best course supplement on the market for studying French, brought to you by the experts at CliffsNotes! CliffsQuickReviewA™ French contains extensive self-testing exercises, a glossary for quick and easy reference of key terms and phrases, and a tear sheet on the most fundamental concepts of the French language. more...

Price: $12.99

Explores the ability of Old French fabliaux to disrupt the literal bodies with which they come into contact. This volume addresses issues including fragmentation and multiplication, social anxiety and excessive circulation, and others to trace the competing consequences that result from this literary body's unsettling capacity. more...

Price: $69.95

Master French in just one day. When time is of the essence, trust Countdown to French to help readers master the language quickly and effectively. Organized into 24 units--each of which is designed to take no more than one hour to study--this self-instruction book presents material in a ''countdown'' fashion, from Hour 24 all the way down to 0, allowing learners to gauge their progress along the way. Beginning with a basic introduction of grammar and vocabulary fundamentals, the units move quickly to practical conversational skills for both vacation and business travelers. Upon completion of the guide--the equivalent of just one day--readers eager to apply their newly honed language skills will be able to communicate in a variety of everyday, real-world situations. more...

Price: $12.95