Latest resources

Bibliothèque du film (BIFI)

http://www.bifi.fr/

This is the website of the Bibliotheque du Film (BIFI), based in Paris, which is the equivalent of the BFI Library in London. In 2005 it moved to a new site at rue de Bercy and contains the screening rooms of the Cinematheque Francaise and an exhibition space. The nearest metro is Bercy, southeast Paris.The BIFI contains books, periodicals, and a VHS/DVD collection. There is also a stills collection. The special collections section (Espace chercheurs) is only open in the afternoon, and booking needs to be made in advance. Since 1996 the collection's mission has been to provide information about films to anybody interested. The website has a current events section as well as information about the collections and services. There are links to cinema sites worldwide, an index of cinema critics and historians, and a thematic index to films. There are downloadable instruction guides to finding films in the collection and through the internet, as well as online exhibitions and multimedia shows.
Added: 2009-08-31More details

Revista Epos

http://62.204.194.45:8080/fedora/get/bibliuned:revistaEPOS/demo:Collection/view/

'Epos' is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal of philology by the Spanish Open University (UNED). Although Spanish philological studies may be more prominent, the journal also publishes articles within the fields of Classics; French; English; and comparative literary studies. Contributions are accepted in all relevant languages, but a good command of Spanish is recommended as this seems to be the main language of the publication. First published in 1984, the repository of the Spanish Open University has made available the full-text content for all issues published since then. Some articles published by Epos include: "History of Rome in Spanish Phraseology"; "Black Africa in Spanish Travel Books from the 16th and 17th centuries"; "A note on the meaning of os in the Old English Rune Poem"; and "Women and Marriage in Les quinze joies de mariage : le monde à l´envers".
Added: 2009-07-12More details

Le Français en Afrique : Revue du réseau des observatoires du Français contemporain en Afrique

http://www.unice.fr/ILF-CNRS/ofcaf/

This journal was set up in 1979 to study the different usage and development of the French language in various francophone African countries. Specifically, it examines use of French from a purely linguistic, rather than ethnocentric, viewpoint. It considers problems caused by the variety of French spoken, seeks solutions to these problems, and also tries to bring together possibly isolated French language researchers in Africa. It appears annually and is available in paper or online format. Full text can be accessed online and articles are in PDF (requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader software). The journal originates from the University of Nice, France, in the department of Bases, Corpus et Langage. The journal is entirely in French.
Added: 2009-07-09More details

L'île

http://www.litterature.org/

L'île is a database about Quebecois Francophone writers. It features biographies or bibliographies of around 1,000 Quebecois authors and around 275 press articles. This covers many genres: novelists, poets, playwrights, biographers, children's writers and cartoonists. The compilers are literature graduates who constantly update the information. They work in partnership with the national Library and Archives of Quebec to ensure accuracy. The database can be searched by author or by literary genre. Otherwise, it is possible to browse an alphabetical list of all the writers. The latest entries are shown on the homepage. A very useful resource for anyone studying French-Canadian literature. The website is entirely in French.
Added: 2009-07-09More details

Chartres : sanctuaire du monde

http://www.chartres-csm.org/

This website provides detailed information about Chartres Cathedral, one of the most notable examples of French Gothic architecture. The website is run by a charitable organisation, Chartres, sanctuaire de Monde, which aims to raise money to support the Cathedral. Sections of the site are devoted to the construction of the cathedral, the major programme of rebuilding undertaken in the 12th century and subsequent alterations to the fabric. Other areas of interest include sections on the iconographic significance of the important collection of stained glass and sculptures, and an account of the development of Chartres as a centre for pilgrimage in the medieval period. Although there is an English language version of the website, much of the more useful content is only available in French.
Added: 2009-07-07More details

Force de l'art 02

http://www.laforcedelart.fr/

This website is for 'La Force de l'Art', a triennial exhibition held as part of Monumenta at the refurbished Grand Palais in Paris. There is information on the website about the different venues used for the exhibition in 'Sites', including The Grand Palais, The Eiffel Tower and The Louvre Museum among others, there is also a section about the purpose built architectural work inside the Palais. There is a list of artists taking part in the exhibition, with a brief biography and project description for each. Artists fit into one of three categories: 'The Residents', for work included in the main exhibition; 'The Visitors', for those artists working on site-specific projects and performances during the exhibition and 'The Guests', who take over from one another in the nave of the Grand Palais. Films of events, talks and performances that took place as part of La Force de l'Art can be viewed on the website, but require Flash plug-in. Other content includes details of the education programme, links to partner organisations and a summary of L'Atelier Graphique, where various art schools came together to design the graphics for the event.
Added: 2009-07-06More details

Hors champ

http://www.horschamp.qc.ca/

Hors champ is an online international film and media magazine published in French. It is based in Canada. Full text content is available free on the website; users can also register to receive notification of each new edition. There are two main sections: Cinema, and Media and Society. Cinema includes interviews with film directors, film reviews and reports on the film industry. Media and society includes articles about television, sport and its portrayal, or politics in the news. There are events listings for Canadian film. Although international in scope, Hors champ is a good source of information about francophone and especially Canadian film. (It is the sister magazine to Offscreen, although not a direct translation of it).
Added: 2009-07-02More details

Transparent language - French blog

http://www.transparent.com/french/

This free educational blog is aimed at students who want to do more than just attend their basic lectures or lessons in French. It teaches more about France and French life. Each blog post talks about some interesting or fun aspect of French. For example, there are posts on French 'argot' or slang; posts about cultural events in France; interesting writers you may like to explore; or French musicians. Video clips are often included. Produced by a teaching company, Transparent Language, it is a quality blog which is well worth bookmarking and which could also give inspiration to teachers looking for further materials. The blog is written in English.
Added: 2009-06-25More details

Ville de Sélestat: Bibliothèque Humaniste

http://www.ville-selestat.fr/spip_bh/sommaire.php

The Bibliothèque Humaniste (Humanist Library), at Sélestat in Alsace, France, is one of the great libraries of Europe. Their website provides bibliographic information about the Sélestat treasures, including: a special exhibition of bindings; ancient collections of the religious communities of its region, and 15th-16th century collections from the period during which the city was a leading centre of the Humanism movement in Europe. Most well-known is the collection of Beatus Rhenanus; and it houses an important collection of the music scores of Alsatian composers. An online catalogue is available. Visitors are welcome in person at the library and there is a blog-style page featuring news and job vacancies at the library.
Added: 2009-06-25More details

Emile Zola Society

http://www.institut-francais.org.uk/zola/

The website of The Emile Zola Society will be useful to anyone engaged in study or research relating to the work of Emile Zola, or nineteenth-century French literature more generally. The site provides details about conferences on the work of this prolific French novelist, held both at the Institut Français and elsewhere; biographical and bibliographic material; information about Zola's infamous open letter regarding the Dreyfus Affair, 'J'accuse!'; pages exploring topics such as the poster campaigns which publicised Zola's work, Zola and painters and Zola abroad; a list of Zola-related resources available for purchase; information about the Society's annual general meeting and subscription information for the Society's newsletter. Overall, this is an invaluable site for students, teachers and researchers working in this field.
Added: 2009-06-18More details

Les amis de Flaubert et de Maupassant

http://www.amis-flaubert-maupassant.fr/

The website, 'Les Amis de Flaubert et de Maupassant', is the site of the Friends' Association of Maupassant and Flaubert; both celebrated nineteenth-century French authors. Established in 1991, the Association aims to raise awareness and understanding of the life and work of these two novelists. To this end, it organizes visits to places closely associated with Maupassant and Flaubert; runs conferences, seminars and exhibitions focussing on their lives, interests and literary works; publishes texts, documents and research theses on Flaubert and Maupassant; and aims to create a resource centre based around the existing collections of their work held at the Bibliothèque municipale de Rouen. The site provides: information about forthcoming conferences and events; subscription details about the Association's bulletin and newsletter; membership information; bibliographic material; further documentation surrounding the life of Flaubert, Maupassant and other 19th century authors; a links page; and a contact page for users to contact the Association directly. This resource is easy to navigate and offers users access to an academic community engaged in the study of Flaubert's and Maupassant's work.
Added: 2009-06-18More details

Balzac's Paris: a guided tour

http://www.balzacsparis.ucr.edu/

This is a virtual tour of the Paris which existed at the time of Balzac the great French novelist. It was produced using online maps, engravings and other visual materials from the Vernon Duke Collection, University of California Riverside. The compilers explain that the Paris Balzac knew (1799-1850) has largely disappeared. However, it helps enormously to understand his novels, many set there, if we can know something of the early nineteenth century capital city. The tour is divided into 4 parts; Locating Balzac’s Paris, Balzac’s Paris, Visiting Balzac’s Paris and the Epilogue. The Table of Contents has background information, and then links to maps and images for each of these sections, plus explanations, showing what Paris looked like. In addition, there are quotations from his novels slotted in by relevant landmarks. A beautifully presented resource, which provides a new slant on Balzac's novels. The two curators, Danièle Chatelain and George Slusser, are both academics at universities in the USA. The website is in English.
Added: 2009-06-18More details

Atelier Cézanne

http://atelier-cezanne.com/

The Atelier Cézanne is the original studio of the artist Paul Cézanne, located in Aix-en-Provence, France, where the artist was born. The studio has been preserved for visitors and turned into a small museum where a range of facilities are offered, such as an audio-visual room, temporary exhibitions and a library-shop. The website has photos of the studio and details for visits. However, it has extra educational information which may be useful for students. This includes a biography of Paul Cézanne and a history of the studio, with photos. Digitised images of some of his most famous paintings are available. There is an interactive map of Aix with red dots showing places of significance to him. This website has a French or English version.
Added: 2009-06-18More details

Cahiers de l'AIEF

http://www.persee.fr/listIssues.do?key=caief

AIEF is the Association internationale des études françaises, which is a learned society founded at the end of Second World War. Its aim is to further the study of French language, literature and civilisation. The Cahiers were its yearly annals of research, published between 1951 and 2001, and now freely available here in electronic format, provided by the Persée publishing company. Subjects covered are broad, ranging from literary and philosphical movements in France, to the Encyclopédie, from the role of the garden in literature, to specific writers or philosophers. Many articles are concerned with the interraction of French culture with other cultures. This is a very rich resource which will probably interest postgraduate or post-doctoral researchers. All material is in French.
Added: 2009-06-18More details

Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (l'AUF)

http://www.auf.org/

The Agence universitaire de la Francophonie is an international network of universities which use French as their main language of instruction. It encourages co-operation between these universities, supports education and research, and gives grants to increase student mobility. It had its origins in Montreal in 1961 and has grown over the years to have institutional members in 81 countries. It is split into administrative regions worldwide. Initiatives include French language programmes for those wanting to learn French; contact details are given for the office for each region. The website offers news of new developments at its member universities, of conferences and of its publications. The website may be of interest to students or academics who want to spend time at a Francophone university.
Added: 2009-06-11More details

1895 : revue de l'association française de recherche sur l'histoire du cinéma

http://1895.revues.org/

1895 is Published by the Association française de recherche sur l'histoire du cinéma (AFRHC) and claims to be the only French journal dedicated exclusively to the history of film. The journal publishes leading articles, young authors' contributions and translations of the best foreign film specialists. Articles deal with subjects such as cinema in specific countries, film movements, film directors and sociopolitical issues, as well as technical developments. There are generally three volumes per year, although sometimes there are special editions instead. The website features contents lists dating back to the year 2000. More recent volumes also have abstracts of articles, in both French and English. Most full articles are in French only however and a subscription is needed to access these.
Added: 2009-06-11More details

Altre modernità

http://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/AMonline/

'Altre Modernità/Other Modernities' is an online journal by the Cultural Studies division of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Milan. It focuses on marginal and peripheral literary and cultural productions which subvert and overcome mainstream trends of modernity. It is interesting that the journal takes a transnational approach, as it covers Anglophone, Francophone, and Hispanophone languages, literatures and cultures. The journal publishes articles; interviews; and reviews, and the website provides free access to the full-contents of current and past issues. Their website also provides information about the organisation of the journal; submission guidelines; and announcements of conferences in Europe and other parts of the world. The site can be navigated in English, whereas contributions are accepted in English, French or Spanish.
Added: 2009-05-31More details

Cibertextos Interactivos

http://mgarci.aas.duke.edu/cibertextos/

The website 'CiberTextos Interactivos' by Duke University is a vast resource with a great number of electronic editions of classic literary texts. Although a fair number of texts by English and French authors have also been included, the site focuses mainly on Spanish classics. Some of the electronic editions offered by this resource are very impressive. It is remarkable the edition of three important Hispanic texts: 'Don Quijote de la Mancha' by Miguel de Cervantes; 'Cantar del Mío Cid'; and 'La Celestina' by Fernando de Rojas. In these cases it is possible to read bilingual editions (Spanish with English; Italian; French; or German); search for words within the texts; and access complementary materials such as important sayings within the texts and bibliographies. Other materials available include texts by: Quevedo; Clarín; and Calderón de la Barca. Texts in English include: 'Sense and sensibility' by Jane Austen; 'The Picture of Dorian Grey', by Oscar Wilde; and 'Moby Dick' by Herman Melville. Some texts in French have been made available too, including: 'Madame Bovary' by Flaubert; and 'Candide' by Voltaire.
Added: 2009-05-29More details

Montaigne Studies: an interdisciplinary forum

http://humanities.uchicago.edu/orgs/montaigne/

Montaigne Studies is an interdisciplinary forum in the form of a website, produced by the Division of Humanities at the University of Chicago. Montaigne was a French Renaissance writer and statesman who has influenced many thinkers and writers. There is a mix of useful materials on here. The Forum includes information on a journal, also called Montaigne Studies. Articles in this journal deal with multiple aspects of Montaigne's writing and life, ranging from his influence on Shakespeare, his writings on classical poets, his essays on philosophy, to psychoanalytical approaches to Montaigne. The journal is subscription only but some limited content is accessible online. The website also has access to digitised extracts of Montaigne's work, including some of his Essays or original covers of his books. (The texts are in PDF and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to read them.) There is a link to the Montaigne project at the University of Chicago, led by Professor Philippe Desan. There is an interview with Desan about his lifelong interest in Montaigne and how he is digitising Montaigne's essays on DVD.
Added: 2009-05-28More details

L'institut canadien de Québec

http://www.icqbdq.qc.ca/

This francophone institute is based in Quebec, Canada and manages the library service in Quebec city. As part of this work, it promotes French literature and the arts there. The website contains much content about French Canadian literature and therefore may be of interest to anyone studying French Canada. For example, there is a list of literary events in Quebec. The institute was founded by a group of young intellectuals in 1848, who wanted to preserve the French language and have a forum for discussion of ideas. The Institute runs the Maison de la Littérature which is located in a former church and offers spaces and training for aspiring writers or those interested in literature. Writers can apply for grants from the Maison to further their careers. (This has its own website which links to the institute's one.) The whole of the Institute's website is in French.
Added: 2009-05-28More details

Institut français du Royaume-Uni

http://www.institut-francais.org.uk/

The Institut français is the French government's official centre in the UK and incidentally one of the oldest French Institutes in the world. It promotes French language and culture but in addition, encourages cross-cultural exchanges. Based in London, it hosts a wide programme of activities: French films, French language courses, talks, children's events, wine-tasting and book launches. Famous French writers and cultural icons have visited the institute over the years. A new venture is children's football coaching with Arsenal football club, combined with French classes. The website describes all the facilities offered, such as the multi-media library, reading room, cinema, reception rooms, French restaurant and spaces for special events. Benefits of membership are listed, including concessionary rates at other London arts venues. Visitors are welcome, whether students, teachers, researchers or members of the public interested in France.
Added: 2009-05-28More details

Albert Camus (Radio 4 In our Time podcast)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime_20080103.shtml

This podcast was recorded on the In Our Time programme on Radio 4 on 3 January 2008. In this 42 minute recording, the presenter Melvyn Bragg interviews three leading French academics about the work of the French Nobel Prize winning author Albert Camus. They are Peter Dunwoodie, David Walker and Christina Howells. First they discuss formative influences on his early life in Algeria, such as his working class roots, the death of his father and colonial life. They then consider his politics and his membership of the Communist Party. His major literary works including The Plague, The Stranger, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Rebel and The Fall are discussed in detail. Camus' concept of the absurd is debated. Other key events such as his move to France and work with the theatre are also analysed. Camus was of course a friend of Jean-Paul Sartre, another very famous French writer, and the interviewees talk about the differences in their outlook on politics and writing. This podcast could be useful for students preparing dissertations on Camus or Existentialism, giving fresh insights into his work and beliefs. Podcasting software is needed to listen to this podcast. Help pages about podcasting software are available on the BBC website.
Added: 2009-05-28More details

Association des Écrivains Bretons (AEB)

http://www.ecrivainsbretons.org/

This association is for anyone who is Breton, writes in Breton or lives in Brittany and supports Breton literature. Founded in 1978 by Yann Brekilien the Breton author, it encourages the study and further production of literature in Breton or literature about Brittany but in French. The website has a list of authors who belong to the association, with brief details about their literary genres. Various projects are underway with the aim of publicising the association further. AEB gives constructive but informal advice to aspiring authors about their works, and this is published online. It holds a number of literary 'salons' or meetings around Brittany; details are available on the website. A catalogue of works by AEB members is held at the public library in the city of Brest. There is a link to this.
Added: 2009-05-21More details

Les manuscrits de Madame Bovary

http://bovary.univ-rouen.fr/

This is the digitised version of the manuscripts of the novel Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert, considered one of the greatest French novels. This project is the result of a collaboration between the municipal library of Rouen and the Centre Flaubert at the University of Rouen. The digitised version is organised into transcribed chapters and sub-sections, for easier viewing. But the original manuscripts can also be viewed and even searched. There is also a huge amount of background information on Flaubert's work, written by the Centre's staff. This includes information about the writing of the novel and extracts of Flaubert's letters about it. Help pages are provided to guide the user around the materials. The entire website is in French.
Added: 2009-05-21More details

Amitiés Internationales André Malraux

http://www.andremalraux.com/

This website is devoted to André Malraux, the French writer, statesman, promoter of the arts, Spanish Civil War and French Resistance fighter. Its stance is apolitical and cultural, with the aim of publicising his work. A large amount of information is available here. There is material on his life, including his studies in archaelogy, travels to Cambodia, novels, his combat on the Republican side in the spanish Civil War, his work as Minister of Culture under De Gaulle and his 'Maisons de Culture'. A full list of his publications is given. Amitiés Internationales does more than this however: it also supports exhibitions and events around France, and has a large membership of academics and people interested in Malraux. The website is mainly in French but some content is in English.
Added: 2009-05-21More details

ARTFL Encyclopédie

http://encyclopedie.uchicago.edu/

This is a free digitised version of much of the famous Encylopédie compiled by the French writers and philosophers Diderot and d'Alembert in the eighteenth century. The project is being run by ARTFL at the University of Chicago and is in progress. To date, there are 17 volumes digitised including some images, but the so-called '18th volume' is now also available, containing materials which originally were censored by the French authorities and not published. The Encyclopédie User Manual is a good place to start, as it explains how to search the database. Some of the explanations on the site are in French only. There is abundant background material about the Encyclopédie too, on its production and reception by the French establishment in the 18th century and about contributors to the work.
Added: 2009-05-21More details

Boris Vian

http://www.borisvian.org/

Boris Vian was a modern French author, jazz musician, inventor, critic, actor and engineer. This colourful and quirky website is managed by his legal executors (Cohé Boris Vian) and links to some of his creative output, with background information. The site owners state that this website is here to help Vian researchers with their work. For example, there are sections devoted to his novels, translations, radio programmes and films. Each section has a summary of his activitiy in each area and, in some cases, a bibliography of his output. Works featured include L'Écume des jours, Jazz in Paris, J'irai cracher sur vos tombes and Le chevalier de neige. There are also sound clips. The Chronology section lists his achievements, year by year. Various events celebrating Vian's work are held in France. The website is available in either French or fairly basic English.
Added: 2009-05-21More details

Académie française

http://www.academie-francaise.fr/

The Académie française is a national French body, founded in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu. Its mission is twofold: to preside over the French language to ensure its quality and correctness, and to award literary prizes for outstanding French. Its most famous production is the dictionary (Dictionnaire de l'Académie française) which is now in its ninth edition (which took seventy years to prepare). The dictionary's role is to be prescriptive and to help its users to use French correctly. The Academy does not pass laws on language usage, contrary to popular myth. Its members are known as 'les immortels' and they represent the greatest French talent in the spheres of culture, literature and science. The website has full information on the Academy's history, current work and the immortels. There is a section devoted to the dictionary with extracts, although the full dictionary is not digitised.
Added: 2009-05-21More details

British Library: French : help for researchers

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelplang/french/french.html

These pages are part of the British Library website and give free access to their impressive collections of French-language collections. They list books, websites, organisations, government websites and other resources, accessible from one page. Resources may be from print collections or online. Some links, such as to books, lead only to catalogue entries. However, there are some useful websites in the French Internet Resources section, for example the Académie Française and Ministry of Culture. The French collection also comprises these sections: Belgian francophone collections, Belgian Studies Reference Sources, Early French books websites, French-Canadian collections, French material from elsewhere in the British Library (BL), French printed collections 1501-1850, French sources on African and the Caribbean, French Studies reference sources, French-Swiss collections and Luxembourg. These pages were redesigned in 2008.
Added: 2009-05-21More details

Transtext(e)sTranscultures

http://www.transtexts.net/

Transtext(e)s Transcultures is a biannual, freely available online journal devoted to the analysis of culture, society and literature using multidisciplinary methods. Articles appear in either English, French, or Chinese. The journal issues (which can be reached through a sidebar from the main page) cover a variety of cultural studies' topics, from poetry to postmodern philosophy and theories of urban modernisation. However, many articles are concerned with contemporary Chinese and Taiwanese culture, with contributors writing on: Beijing's modernisation; Chinese urban female writers; the artist Xu Bing; the culture of Chinese food; Taiwan-based director Tsai Mingliang; and representations of China in the discourse of the French travel industry. Journal articles can be downloaded in Adobe pdf format, and a short abstract is provided for each submission.

The journal would be of interest to anyone with an interest in cultural studies, particularly in postmodern discourse and analysis. The proportion of articles discussing China and Taiwan would particularly recommend it to scholars of modern China and Taiwan.
Added: 2009-05-16More details

Primary sources on copyright in five jurisdictions 1450-1900

http://www.copyrighthistory.org/

This website is “a digital archive of primary sources on copyright from the invention of the printing press (c. 1450) to the Berne Convention (1886) and beyond”. Funded by the AHRC, this ambitious and extensive database includes digital images and commentary for key texts in the evolution of intellectual property law pertaining to five modern jurisdictions: Britain, Germany, France, Italy, the United States. Documents include “privileges, statutes, judicial decisions, contracts and materials relating to legislative history” as well as “contemporary letters, essays, treatises and artefacts”. Material was compiled by separate national editors, and limited to 50 core texts (20 for the USA and Italy covering a much shorter time period) supplemented by “many more” contextual documents. Inclusions were additionally scrutinised by an international editorial board. The development of copyright is outlined in its broadest sense, with documents relating to subjects as varied as the book trade, authorship, fine art, printed textiles, dramatic performance, telegraphic cable messages and photography. The database allows browsing several perspectives – documents are assembled into useful lists which can be traced as a global timeline or within specific jurisdiction, as well as enabling browsing by individual locations and authors. Documents can further be browsed by Institution, Legislation and Case law referred to. This resource is obviously invaluable to anyone studying the history of intellectual property law but its detailed commentary and clear structure make it useful to those studying a far wider range of historical subjects.
Added: 2009-04-30More details

Obscenity in Renaissance France

http://groups.exeter.ac.uk/obscenity/

This is the website of the AHRC-funded research network, ‘Obscenity ion Renaissance France’. Bringing together scholars from the UK, France, Netherlands and USA, the network aims examine complex notions of obscenity during the French Renaissance, challenging popular notions of “‘Rabelaisian’ debauchery”. The network organised a series of meetings in 2007-2009, culminating with a panel discussion at Sixteenth Century Society and Conference in May 2009. Additionally two major publications are planned. A further output (available on this website) is the ‘Database of rude words’ which describes French and neo-Latin terms ranging from “sexual double-entendres to scatalogical insults”.
Added: 2009-04-23More details

Language box

http://languagebox.eprints.org/

The 'Language Box' is an online resource whereby teachers and students will be able to share their learning materials for any language. The site has been developed by the Faroes project team at the the University of Southampton and the University of Portsmouth, with the financial support of JISC. The site is very easy to navigate, and in most cases users can view previews of the materials before downloading them. Sometimes free registration is necessary to be able to download files. Materials can be browsed by: type; language; or tags. Activities cover a wide range of languages such as: Chinese; English; French; German; Arabic; etc. Likewise, activities are of a wide range and they include: videos; computer applications; texts; and exercises. Although this site is of recent creation, it is growing gradually and is being updated regularly. This all is the result of the collaboration between students and teachers, as they share the resources which they have found useful for language learning. Anyone interested in learning a language will therefore find this resource useful.
Added: 2009-04-13More details

French Spanish online

www.frenchspanishonline.com

'French Spanish online' is a free resource for learners of French, Spanish, and English (for French speakers). The three languages are available for beginners level, and there is also a section for French intermediate in the format of a blog/magazine. The aim is to learn the basics of pronunciation, vocabulary, and a little bit of grammar with the well presented audio files, exercises and games. However, grammar explanations are not very abundant, and sometimes the resource facilitates learning by repetition only. Despite this, students will find entertaining, complementary materials for their courses and other self-taught materials. Users should note French sections have been developed more than the Spanish and English courses.
Added: 2009-04-13More details

Charles de Gaulle : paroles publiques

http://degaulle.ina.fr/

This website, focusing on General Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970), represents an outstanding resource on French history for the 1940 to 1969 period. Available online are a sizeable audio and audio-visual reproductions of de Gaulle's public speeches originating from newsfilms, radio and TV broadcastings. Around two hundred documents, totalling almost fifty hours, are accessible. The multimedia library can be searched or browsed chronologically. Additionally, speeches can be grouped according to their thematic content. Each speech is accompanied by explanatory notes, describing the relevant historical context of each, and by a full transcription. The same multimedia library can be explored following pre-set thematic paths which include: de Gaulle and the Algerian war; de Gaulle and the May 1968 crisis and de Gaulle and Africa. A helpful interactive map provides a list of speeches as given by the French General in various locations around the world. The speeches covered span the long military and political career of the de Gaulle, including his famous radio address of 22 June 1940, broadcasted by the BBC. Historians and researchers would find this site of great value, providing access to primary sources, whilst students would benefit from the additional information and explanatory texts.
Added: 2009-03-30More details

French book trade

http://chop.leeds.ac.uk/

This website describes an AHRC-funded research project using the unique archives of Swiss publishing house, Société Typographique de Neuchâtel (STN) to “map the French book trade across late-Enlightenment Europe in order to chart best-selling texts and authors; reading tastes across Europe; changing patterns of demand over time; and networks of exchange in the print-trade”. The project aims to create a freely accessible database allowing comparisons of reading tastes across international borders and enable to future researches to study specific areas the pan-European Enlightenment book trade without the need to “mine the totality of the original archive”. At the time of writing, the project (which began in 2007) was working to publication of results of a pilot study.
Added: 2009-03-13More details

Base Joconde : catalogue des collections des musées de France

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/documentation/joconde/fr/pres.htm

Base Joconde is a site hosted by the French government that provides a catalogue of the collections held in French museums. The title of the site is a reference to Leonardo da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting, held at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The site is testament to France's great wealth of museum collections which embrace archaeology; the fine arts; the decorative arts; ethnology; history; science; and technology. The site lists participating museums across France, with good contact and location information. It also gives highly detailed and illustrated lists of individual items in each museum's collection. This database should be primarily valuable for Art Historians and scholars working in French Studies. However, some collections cover broader areas and users should check carefully for artistic examples stemming from Franco-America; Asia; other parts of Europe; and elsewhere. A quick overview of non-French holdings is evident under the Recherche par listes (Search by lists) function, in which users can cross search the database by means of themed lists, especially under such rubrics as Lieux géographiques étrangers; Lieux de création / exécution à l'étranger; and Lieux de découverte à l'étranger. Social and Cultural Historians should also find this resource helpful, with its range of ancient to modern artifacts and art pieces. The site's links list is truly impressive, opening onto many relevant sites and portals. Under the heading Nouveautés, the site additionally lists upcoming exhibitions and gives beautiful sample images. Small online exhibitions with equally appealing images are posted under the main headings Parcours thématiques and Expositions virtuelles. Here, the Victor Guillen historical shoe collection is a particular highlight, featuring, a woman's mule from the French Revolution along with other historical footwear.
Added: 2009-03-06More details

Féeries - Etudes sur le conte merveilleux, XVIIe - XIXe siècle

http://feeries.revues.org/

The website of the journal 'Féeries' offers academics and researchers online access both to previously published articles and to abstracts of forthcoming papers. The journal is dedicated to the study of the fairy tale genre in French between the 17th and 19th centuries. Published annually, the journal accepts scholarly articles which privilege literary analysis and focus on such aspects as structure, aesthetics, theme and genre. Although the journal's primary purpose is to provide an academic forum for the study of fairy tales in French, it also encourages more comparative approaches to the French tale in the broader context of the European tradition of fairy stories. In addition to the list of past editions and an index of authors, the site provides a search engine for researchers to search the database of articles by keyword. Contact and subscription details are given in subsequent pages.
Added: 2009-02-27More details

Assia Djebar

http://www.assiadjebar.net/

Assia Djebar's website provides an extensive, detailed and well-developed resource which covers all aspects of the life, career, writing and film-making of the Algerian writer. Accessible and easy to navigate, the site is divided into eleven pages. The home page provides a site menu and links to a diary of upcoming events; a list of the prizes and awards she has received (including transcripts of a number of acceptance speeches); details of theatrical performances inspired by Djebar's work; an exerpt from her collection of autobiographical essays 'Ces voix qui m'assiègent: en marge de ma francophonie'; and a page with links to related sites. From the site menu, the following pages can be accessed: First Novels 1957-67; Cinema 1978-82; Novels 1980-95; Violent Algeria 1990s; Novels 1995-present; Women in Islam (a discussion of Djebar's novel 'Loin de Médine' (1991)); On Assia Djebar, which provides an extensive list of bibliographic resources about her work; University Studies, a page which includes Djebar's vision for the field of Francophone Studies, a list of undergraduate dissertations in North America dedicated to her work, and a thematic list of suggested reading for students and other readers; Djebar's biography; and finally a bibliography of her work.
Added: 2009-02-26More details

CultureFB

http://www.culturefb.org/

CulturalFB is the bilingual site of the Franco-British Network on Cultural Relations. A collaborative project first conceived by academics in 2004, the Network aims to bring together scholars in Arts and Humanities disciplines in France, Britain and elsewhere in order to foster research into the cultural relations between Britain and France from the late Nineteenth Century onwards. The site is divided into four main sections: how the Network is organised; details of the Network's activities, including conferences and seminars relating to Franco-British cultural relations; a publications page which includes calls for papers; and a page which provides links to related sites. As such, this site both provides a hub for academics who wish to foster links with scholars in similar fields and promotes cross-cultural research within the Arts and Humanities.
Added: 2009-02-26More details

André Gide editions project

http://www.shef.ac.uk/french/research/projects/gide.html

The website of the André Gide Editions Project at the University of Sheffield provides a brief description of the project and an interesting gallery of photographs of Gide and images of his book covers. The project looks at the Nobel Prize winner's novels and aims to produce CD-ROM versions of his major works, such as "Les Caves du Vatican" and "Les Faux-Monnayeurs". Staff on the project are also preparing editions of Gide's correspondence. The project will employ advanced IT-based text-handling methods to provide multi-dimensional readings of the author's many reworkings of his texts. The CD-ROM edition of "Caves du Vatican" is already available and contains over 650 digitized images of manuscript, transcriptions, and hyperlinks to enable the reader to navigate Gide's creative processes as far as possible. The project received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) within the Resource Enhancement scheme.
Added: 2009-02-12More details

Assia Djebar

http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Djebar.html

Dedicated to the Algerian writer, Assia Djebar, this web resource forms part of the Postcolonial Studies website of Emory State University's English Department. The main site is designed as an introduction to the major topics and issues at the heart of postcolonialism. Divided into three sections, the resource which focuses on the life and work of Djebar offers a biography; a critical and theoretical commentary on her well known work 'L'Amour, la fantasia', translated into English as 'Fantasia: An Algerian Cavalcade'; and a selected bibliography. Best known for challenging colonial and patriarchal historical discourses, Djebar employs a variety of narrative forms in her writing in order to decenter the French colonial perspective and bring to the fore the experience of women engaged in the campaign for Algerian independence. In the light of this, three aspects of Djebar's text 'L'Amour, la fantasia' are explored: the ways in which Djebar uses writing to revise colonial constructions of history; subjectivity and the experience of the 'subaltern', (a term used by Gayatri Spivak to denote marginalized and disenfranchised groups within society); and the feminist challenges Djebar makes to the dominant discourses of nationalism in Algerian society. As such, this page provides a valuable resource for both students and teachers interested or engaged in Postcolonial Studies.
Added: 2009-02-09More details

Chansons françaises et francophones en cours de FLE

http://www.southwestern.edu/~prevots/songs/

The 'Chansons françaises et francophones en cours de FLE' multimedia site aims to provide resources for students and teachers of French. Its purpose is threefold: to promote French and Francophone cultures; to encourage the use of songs in the classroom; and to establish a bank of songs that can be developed over time. The site features streaming MP3s, annotated lyrics and links to interviews, articles and other resources. Divided into six sub-sections, the site includes: a page cataloguing Franco-Belgian artists; resources for teachers, including a glossary of musical genres and a help sheet on approaches to using music as a pedagogical tool; beginner's favourites, which span from the Seventeenth Century to the present day; contributing artists' songs 2006-8; selected new songs 2008; and selected new songs 2007. The recordings are of songs in the public domain and artists' originals used with permission.
Added: 2009-02-09More details

Albert Camus Society UK

http://www.camus-society.com/

The Albert Camus Society UK website aims to promote the work and thought of Albert Camus. Well-organized and clearly structured, this site is easy to navigate, visually appealing and accessible to those with little prior knowledge of the work and life of Camus. Divided into six main sections, the Albert Camus Society UK site includes pages on: Camus' biography; his thought; the society itself; Camus' writing; further links; and a blog. The biographical pages offer a detailed, accurate and digestible overview of Camus' life and background. The section dedicated to Camus' thought provides an introduction to central questions which preoccupied him, such as absurdism and existentialism. It also offers brief synopses of other key works, namely: 'The Stranger'; 'The Plague'; and 'Caligula'. There is a lack of balance in the attention given to some texts over others; 'The Stranger' receiving the most detailed treatment. There is then practical information given about joining the society, a chronological list of Camus's writing and links to student resources on some of Camus' principle works. Finally, the Camus Society blog provides a space to share news, reviews, opinions and other information related to Camus studies such as events, seminars and recent publications. The blog page includes monthly archives which detail past postings. The site presents Camus' thought and work in clear terms, providing an accessible introduction to his philosophical ideas. As such, these pages will be most useful for undergraduate students and teachers of French literature and philosophy.
Added: 2009-01-26More details

French learner language oral corpora

http://www.flloc.soton.ac.uk/

Funded by the ESRC, AHRB and the British Academy, the French learner language oral corpora website aims to promote research in French language learning by providing a range of corpora (sets of recordings and their transcripts) from a number of research projects. Well-organized and easy to navigate, the site is divided into three main sections: the French learner language oral corpora project; the individual corpora which it catalogues; and further resources for researchers. The first section outlines the overarching project, the corpora it includes and the computerized Child Language Data Exchange System (CHILDES) employed by the researchers who carried out the projects. Access to the data is possible through downloading the CHILDES software, clear instructions for which are given in the Beginner's Guide pages under the section entitled 'Other Resources'. The second section elaborates on the descriptions given of the corpora in the first section. For each corpus, details of the research project, the tasks set and the learners involved are given. There is then a collection of the data produced by learners of French participating in each project. The primary data can be downloaded in a number of formats including sound, transcriptions, tagged and XML. The final section, 'Other Resources', offers an extensive bibliography, details of future conferences and a list of other related research projects. Collaboratively produced and run by the Modern Language Schools of both Southampton and Newcastle Universities, this website constitutes an accessible and useful resource for those engaged in teaching and research in this field. This resource can also be downloaded in XML format from the Oxford Text Archive (OTA) website (formerly part of the Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS)).
Added: 2009-01-26More details

Olivier Messiaen

http://www.oliviermessiaen.net/

Hosted by the Boston University Messiaen Project ("BUMP"), this is a scholarly, peer-reviewed website that is dedicated to the French composer and organist, Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992). Messiaen studied at the Paris Conservatoire, and was taught by Paul Dukas, Charles-Marie Widor and Marcel Dupré amongst others. Taking up the organ in 1927, he became organist at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité in 1931, a post that he held for the rest of his life. One of the most influential composers of the twentieth century, Messiaen's music is often noted for its rhythmical complexity, rich tonality and unique harmonic language. It not only drew on his strict adherence to Catholicism, but also was also inspired by his fascination with birdsong. The website includes detailed information on the composer's life and works, which are arranged by title, genre or date; a section on the musical language of Messiaen's music; papers relating to Messiaen; information about the BUMP project and events; and links to other Messiaen websites. With few academic websites relating to Messiaen, this is a key site for anyone studying the music of Messiaen.
Added: 2008-12-23More details

Olivier Messiaen

http://www.messiaen2008.com/

This website was created by the French non-profit organisation Messiaen 2008, "in agreement with the French foundation Olivier Messiaen" to mark the centenary of the birth of composer and organist, Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992). One of the most influential musicians on the next generation of composers, Messiaen's music is often noted for its rhythmical complexity, rich tonality and unique harmonic language. It not only drew on his strict adherence to Catholicism, but also was also inspired by his fascination with birdsong. Primarily set-up to provide information about the Messiaen-related events that occurred throughout the composer's centenary year, the website also contains: a biography and chronology of the composer; a list of works that can be sorted alphabetically, by date, or by musical genre; a discography; and a bibliography. The website is available in French and English.
Added: 2008-12-23More details

Beckett International Foundation

http://www.beckettfoundation.org.uk/

The Beckett International Foundation website provides information on the foundation and its work. The foundation, based at the School of English and American Literature at the University of Reading, is a charitable trust and owns the largest collection of Beckett-related materials in the world (the Beckett Archive). The trust exists to further interdisciplinary study of Beckett's works, and encompasses the: French; Philosophy; and Film, Theatre and Television departments at Reading. As well as details on the Beckett Archive and ongoing research at the University, the site also provides: links to Beckett-related websites; news on the foundation's annual Beckett Seminars and other events; and details of relevant publications by the foundation. This site would be of interest to Beckett scholars and researchers from various fields.
Added: 2008-12-19More details

Fathoms from anywhere : a Samuel Beckett centenary exhibition

http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/web/beckett//

'Fathoms from Anywhere' is an online electronic exhibition on the life and work of author and playwright Samuel Beckett. The exhibition is the work of the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. The site is divided into six sections: an introduction; 'Career'; 'Beckett's Circle'; 'Share Your Thoughts'; 'Biographical Timeline'; and 'About the Archive'. The career section is fairly comprehensive, working from his early writings to his final and posthumous works. Each of these periods is discussed in a few short paragraphs, supported by images of: manuscripts; book covers; and photographs. 'Beckett's Circle' contextualises Beckett by listing and describing the people and organisations that were his contemporaries. 'Share Your Thoughts' allows visitors to the exhibition to post a comment about Beckett and his works, while the 'Biographical Timeline' is a link to the timeline on the Samuel Beckett Endpage at the University of Antwerp. The final section gives an overview of the history and organisation of the Ransom Center's Beckett archive, from which the images and quotes in the exhibition are taken. This site would be of use to students and researchers working on Beckett, as well as interested readers and audiences of his works.
Added: 2008-12-17More details

France - Diplomatie. La Francophonie

http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-priorities_1/francophony-french-language

This is the home page of La Francophonie, the cultural and diplomatic alliance of France and French-speaking countries and regions. Since La Francophonie is affiliated with France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the main site showcases France's foreign and diplomatic policies. The organisation has its own parliamentary assembly as well as intergovernmental agencies. A good section is devoted to the latest diplomatic news, including online press briefings. Other news sections report on recent relevant international conferences and meetings, and cooperative initiatives with other countries and organizations. Further headings include: Discovering France; Going to France; Studying in France; Learning French; and Investing in France. The site lists La Francophonie's recent publications on topics as diverse as agriculture; economy; sustainable development; environment; rule of law; health; society; civil society; cities; and development areas. Other pages list publications in the fields of education; film; the media; science; and engineering. The site is primarily in French with some sections available in English, Spanish and German. Overall, this site provides an excellent practical guide to France and French culture.
Added: 2008-11-17More details