Contes français

Includes 218 footpage notes - Arround 951 Ebook pages - Interactive table of
contents and notes with hyperlinks.

This edition of "Contes Français" follows the lines of my precedent "French
Short Stories". The stories have been chosen from representative authors of
the nineteenth century with a view to: (1) literary worth, (2) varied style
and subject-matter, (3) large vocabulary, (4) interest for the student.

The vocabulary is large (between 6000 and 7000 words); it is hoped that it
will be found to be complete, with the exception of merely personal names,
having no English equivalent and of no signification beyond the story in which
they occur. In a few instances words will be found in the text with special
meanings; in these cases the vocabulary contains the usual signification as
well as the special. Irregularities in pronunciation are indicated in the
vocabulary.

A knowledge of the elementary principles of French grammar on the part of the
student is presupposed. Consequently the notes contain few grammatical
explanations. Repetition of rules that may be found in the ordinary grammars
would be unnecessary, and the individual instructor will probably prefer to
adapt this side of the work to the needs of each class, Or better still to the
needs of each student. Mere translations have also been avoided in the notes;
the complete vocabulary will enable the student to do this work himself. The
body of the notes is devoted to the explanation of historical and literary
references and to the explanation of difficult or exceptional grammatical
constructions. A few general remarks have been made in connection with each
author in order to point out his place in French literature; bibliographical
material for more detailed information has been indicated and the principal
works of each author have been mentioned, together with one or more editions
of his works.

No alteration of any kind has been made in the French Text.