French is spoken by more than 321 million people across all continents. As an official, foreign, or native language, French is a global language whose influence is both cultural and economic.

To celebrate International Francophonie Month, Fransk kulturhus invites you to discover the richness of the French-speaking world through the works of authors from different countries and cultures. 

From comics and children’s fiction to autobiographical novels and plays, these books are available in our library!

Abdelkader Djemaï

Born in Oran in 1948, Abdelkader Djemaï is an Algerian writer who has been exiled in France since 1992.

His novels and stories explore the themes of his childhood and the Algerian tragedy. 

He has won several literary awards and is a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. His writing is simple, direct and intimate, and reflects both the dramas and the trivialities  of everyday life.

Discover this author at Fransk kulturhus

Le nez sur la vitre, novel

Passengers, a traffic accident, a gas station… A bus journey between Avignon and Nancy, filled with nostalgia and reflection on life …

31 rue de l’aigle, novel

An anonymous detective and member of a “curious” police department, works out of a villa at 31 rue de l’aigle.

Algeria

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Total population: 45 million (2021, World Bank)

🗣️French speakers: 14,903,789 (32.86% of the population) (OIF figures)

Amadou Hampâte Bâ

Born in 1901 Bandiagara, Mali, and died in 1991 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Amadou Hampâté Bâ was a Malian writer and ethnologist. 

A staunch advocate for African oral tradition, he was known as “the wise African man” or “the wise Marcory man”. 

In 1960, he declared: “In Africa, whenever an elder dies, a library burns down.'”, which became a proverb

He was awarded the silver medal for the Prix de la langue française by the Académie Française in 1975.

Discover this author at Fransk kulturhus

Mémoires , Tome  : Amkoullel, l’enfant peul, an autobiographical novel

In this autobiographical novel, Amadou Hampâté Bâ relates not only his childhood and adolescence, but also the history, heritage, customs and beliefs of the Malian people. With humor, kindness and sometimes fantastic elements from tales, the author invites us on a journey to the heart of Africa and its traditions.

Mali

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Total population:  22 395 489 (2022, National Institute of Statistics of Mali)

🗣️French speakers: 3 703 000 (17% of the population) (OIF figures)

Aminata Sow Fall

Aminata Sow Fall, a Senegalese writer and novelist, recognized as the pioneer of Francophone African literature, was born in Saint-Louis, Senegal in 1941.

Her commitment to education for all, particularly for women, makes her an essential  figure.

Aminata Sow Fall has received several awards and distinctions, including the Grand Prix de la Francophonie from the Académie Française in 2015.

Discover this author at Fransk kulturhus

Festins de la Détresse, novel

Rapid economic, familial, and social changes are too fast for human lives.

Through this novel, Aminata Sow Fall challenges the idea that survival and development depend solely on material goods and draws inspiration from African songs and traditions to emphasize the importance of creativity and spiritual fulfillment in preserving human dignity.

Senegal

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Total population: 18 032 473 (2021, National Agency of Statistics and Demography of Senegal)

🗣️French speakers: 4 640 000 (26% of the population) (OIF figures)

Zep (Philippe Chappuis)

Philippe Chappuis, known as Zep, is a Swiss comic book artist born in 1967. He is the creator of Titeuf! which quickly became an international success. His albums have been translated into dozens of languages, adapted into animated series, then movies and video games.

Discover this author at Fransk kulturhus

Titeuf Tomes 3,4,5,6,7,8,11,13 – Comics
Pourquoi moi ? 
Tchô la planète ! 
Au secours, 
Les filles, c’est nul ! 
Ah ouais d’accord…

Through the adventures of Titeuf and his friends, Zep explores the universe of childhood, full of questioning about the adult world, love, sexuality, relationships with girls, and friendships.

Switzerland

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Total population:  8,7 millions (2021, Federal Statistical Office of Switzerland)

🗣️French speakers: 5 889 000 (67% of the population) (OIF figures)

Danielle Simard

Born in 1952 in Montreal, Danielle Simard is a Québécois novelist.

Initially a graphic designer and illustrator, she quickly devoted herself to writing and illustrating books for young readers. Her work is recognized and appreciated by both her young readers and their parents or teachers. Since 1990, she has written and illustrated more than sixty books and has received numerous awards, such as the Youth Book Award from the Montreal libraries for her book La petite rapporteuse de mots co-written with Geneviève Côté.

Discover this author at Fransk kulturhus

La petite rapporteuse de mots, children’s book

Elise’s grandmother is getting older, and she is increasingly having trouble finding her words… As if they were flying away or getting lost, a bit like her keys! Elise decides to help her grandmother!

Canada

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Total population:  40 millions (2023, diplomatie.gouv.fr)

🗣️French speakers: 11 061 000 (29% of the population) (OIF figures)

Eugène Ionesco

Eugène Ionesco, a Romanian-French born in 1909 in Slatina, Romania, was a playwright and writer of the French language.

He is recognized as one of the precursors of the Theatre of the Absurd, a movement that gained prominence in the 1950s.

His plays often denounce totalitarianism, war, loss of identity, and the absurdity of modern life.

He died in 1994 after being awarded numerous accolades and honors during his career, such as the Grand Prix National du Théâtre and the European Prize for Literature.

Discover this author at Fransk kulturhus

Rhinocéros, theatre

The inhabitants of a small town gradually transform into rhinoceroses one after another. Bérenger struggles to resist this transformation as best as he can…

Présent passé passé présent, essay 

The boundaries between present and past are blurred, and memory, perception of time, memories, and reality are called into question.

Le roi se meurt, theatre

The life of King Bérenger I is coming to an end, but he refuses to accept it. As time goes by, his palace disintegrates around him. Absurd dialogues with the queens, the doctor, and even the guard prompt him to question life, death, power, and the human condition.

Romania

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Total population: 19 201 662  (2021, Diplomatie.gouv.fr)

🗣️French speakers: 2 282 000 (12% of the population) (OIF figures)

Georges Simenon

Georges Simenon, born in 1903 in Liège and deceased in 1989, was a Francophone Belgian novelist.

Famous for his detective novels, especially the series featuring Inspector Maigret, Simenon wrote no less than 193 novels, 158 short stories, articles, autobiographical works, and 176 novels and short stories published under other pseudonyms… He is the most widely read Belgian writer in the world and the third most translated French-language author in the world after Jules Verne and Alexandre Dumas.

Discover this author at Fransk kulturhus

Les mémoires de Maigret, novel
Le cercle des Mahé, novel
L’âne rouge, novel
Trois chambres à Manhattan, novel
La pipe de Maigret, novel
Maigret et le corps sans tête, novel
Maigret au Picratt’s, novel
Maigret tend un piège, novel
Maigret et le clochard, novel
Maigret à l’école, novel

Belgium

🧑‍🤝‍🧑Total population:  11 697 557  (2023, Statbel)

🗣️French speakers: 8 815 000  (76% of the population) (OIF figures)

Visit our library to discover dozens of other Francophone writers!