Let's be clear from the start: this isn't a novel. There's no single plot. Instead, George Saintsbury takes us on a grand tour, starting around the year 1100 with the earliest French poems and stories. He walks us through the major shifts in how people wrote and thought. We see the rise of poetry, the birth of the stage with medieval plays, the elegant strictness of 17th-century drama, the wild ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers, and the big emotions of the Romantic poets. He ends his story in the 1800s, looking at the realist novelists who were changing fiction right as he was writing.

The Story

The 'story' is the story of French writing itself. Saintsbury acts as our guide, introducing us to the major players—from Chrétien de Troyes and his knights to Molière and his comedies, from Voltaire's sharp wit to Victor Hugo's massive imagination. He doesn't just tell us who wrote what; he tries to explain why it mattered at the time and what makes it still worth reading. He groups writers into movements and periods, showing how each generation reacted to the one before it. It's a narrative of ideas, styles, and constant change.

Why You Should Read It

You should read this because Saintsbury's voice is the best part. This isn't a neutral, facts-only textbook. He has favorites (he really likes the 16th-century poet Ronsard) and writers he's less impressed by. His opinions are bold and clear, which makes the history feel alive and debatable. It’s like getting a curated reading list from someone who has actually read everything and isn't afraid to tell you what he thinks. You come away not just with knowledge, but with a sense of passion for the subject. He makes you see the long conversation these writers were having across centuries.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for curious readers who want to understand the backbone of French culture, or for anyone who loves literature and enjoys a guide with personality. It's great if you're planning a deep dive into French classics and want a map. It might feel a bit old-fashioned in places—Saintsbury was writing in 1882—but that's part of its charm. It's a history of literature that is, itself, a piece of literary history. Not for someone seeking quick summaries, but ideal for a reader ready to be led on a thoughtful, engaging journey through one of the world's great literary traditions.