French

Collection overview

The collection covers language and literature from the medieval period, but is particularly strong in literature from the mid-19th century onwards.

Critical material is also available in English, together with some English language translations of key or representative texts.

There are modest holdings in Occitan.

Collection strengths include:

  • Emphasis on literature, with primary texts collected mainly in the original language
  • A focus on contemporary authors
  • Good holdings in post-colonial literatures
  • Strong holdings in the literature of French-speaking Africa
  • Substantial holdings of related periodical literature and Special Collections material

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Collection location

  • Many books are located on the 6th floor South Block
  • All items available on open access will display the location FRENCH, with the classmark prefix 3 eg FRENCH South Block 6th Floor (3) XTA Kay
  • Most periodicals are located on the periodicals open shelves (PS) on the 3rd floor South Block
  • Recent issues of periodicals are on display bays in the Goldsmith Library – 4th floor South Block . For more information on finding journals, see our journals resources page>
  • Some items are held in the closed access stacks. These will display the location Stack Service. Please request at the Stack Service desk on the 4th floor South Block
  • To locate individual titles use the online catalogue

Related collections

Classmarks for French

All classmarks in this collection have a numerical prefix of 3 eg FRENCH South Block 6th Floor (3) XTA Kay

French language XS
Old French to 1500 XSY
Anglo-Norman French XSZ
French literature XT
History of French literature (general) XT-XTJ
French literature to 1300 XTJ
French literature 14th-15th centuries XTK
French literature Renaissance XTL
French literature 17th century XTM
French literature 18th century XTP
French literature 1789-1850 XTQ
French literature 1850-1900 XTR
French literature 1900-1960 XTT
French literature from 1960 XTU
French literature of Asia and North Africa XTW
French literature of Africa XTX
Belgian literature XTY
French-Canadian literature XTZ

French-language material from Latin America and the Caribbean is shelved with the Latin American and Caribbean Studies collection

 Francophone Caribbean  literature LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES North Block 3rd Floor (34) XTV
   
Occitan language XKP
Occitan literature XKQ-R

For a more detailed explanation of classmarks see the Library's leaflet 'A guide to the classification scheme'.

Other libraries

For more information about French Studies holdings in other academic libraries in the London area, please consult the M25 Consortium of Higher Education Libraries website: www.m25lib.ac.uk. For elsewhere in the UK, consult the Consortium of University and Research Libraries catalogue: www.copac.ac.uk.

Contact details

Colin Homiski, Academic Liaison Librarian - Arts
colin.homiski@london.ac.uk 020 7862 8457 more>
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or visit the Information Desk (4th floor)
email shl.enquiries@london.ac.uk phone 020 7862 8461 or 8462

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