A Short History of French Literature

"A Short History of French Literature" by George Saintsbury is a journey through time that explores how French writing has changed and grown. Written in the late 1800s, the book gives a simple look at the story of French literature, moving from old stories from the Middle Ages all the way to books from the 1800s. The writer wants to show how different books and authors, and the events that changed France, created French literature. Right away, the book says it will look at French literature as one big story, pointing out important things like how stories went from being told without a known author to having famous people write them. The beginning part of the book talks about how the writer will put literature into different time periods and styles, and that using true facts and old writings is important to tell a story that is both helpful and fun for people who want to learn about literature. The approach sets the stage to look closely at important movements and people in literature over the years, providing a way to understand the fascinating background of French writing.