Milestones of French literature, from the medieval "Chanson de Roland" to the immediate present, are placed in their cultural and intellectual context. In addition to world-renowned names like Molière, Racine, Voltaire, Hugo, Sartre, and Camus, lesser-known authors, smaller genres such as the crime novel or Beur literature, as well as film and chanson, are included in a lively presentation of literary developments. The 6th edition of this popular literary history appears with numerous newly written chapters and updates, particularly regarding contemporary literature, and offers a compact overview of Francophone literatures. Contributors to the new edition include Elisabeth Arend, Wolfgang Asholt, Marc Föcking, Jürgen Grimm, Susanne Hartwig, Bernhard Huss, and Roland Issl.