This edition of Contes Français follows the lines of myedition of French Short Stories, published in 1907. The stories havebeen chosen from representative authors of the nineteenth century with aview 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 thatit will be found to be complete, with the exception of merely personalnames, having no English equivalent and of no signification beyond thestory in which they occur. In a few instances words will be found in thetext with special meanings; in these cases the vocabulary contains theusual signification as well as the special. Irregularities inpronunciation are indicated in the vocabulary.
A knowledge of the elementary principles of French grammar on the partof the student is presupposed. Consequently the notes contain fewgrammatical explanations. Repetition of rules that may be found in theordinary grammars would be unnecessary, and the individual instructorwill probably prefer to adapt this side of the work to the needs of eachclass, Or better still to the needs of each student. Mere translationshave also been avoided in the notes; the complete vocabulary will enablethe student to do this work himself. The body of the notes is devoted tothe explanation of historical and literary references and to theexplanation of difficult or exceptional grammatical constructions. A fewgeneral remarks have been made in connection with each author in orderto point out his place in French literature; bibliographical materialfor more detailed information has been indicated and the principal worksof each author have been mentioned, together with one or more editionsof his works.
No alteration of any kind has been made in the French Text.
PRÉFACE
MÉRIMÉE
--L'ENLÈVEMENT DE LA REDOUTE
--LE COUP DE PISTOLET
MAUPASSANT
--LA MAIN
--UNE VENDETTA
--L'AVENTURE DE WALTER SCHNAFFS
--TOMBOUCTOU
--EN MER
--LES PRISONNIERS
--LE BAPTÊME
--TOINE
--LE PÈRE MILON
DAUDET
--LE CURÉ DE CUCUGNAN
--LE SOUS-PRÉFET AUX CHAMPS
--LE PAPE EST MORT
--UN RÉVEILLON DANS LE MARAIS
--LA VISION DU JUGE DE COLMAR
ERCKMANN-CHATRIAN
--LA MONTRE DU DOYEN
COPPÉE
--LE LOUIS D'OR
--L'ENFANT PERDU
GAUTIER
--LA MILLE ET DEUXIÈME NUIT
BALZAC
--UN DRAME AU BORD DE LA MER.
MUSSET
--CROISILLES
NOTES.
VOCABULARY.
Page 1
L'ENLÈVEMENT DE LA REDOUTE
Un militaire de mes amis, qui est mort de la fièvre en
Grèce il y a quelques années, me conta un jour la première
affaire à laquelle il avait assisté. Son récit me frappa
tellement, que je l'écrivis de mémoire aussitôt que j'en
[5]eus le loisir. Le voici:
Je rejoignis le régiment le 4 septembre au soir. Je
trouvai le colonel au bivac. Il me reçut d'abord assez
brusquement; mais, après avoir lu la lettre de recommandation
du général B * * *, il changea de manières, et
[10]m'adressa quelques paroles obligeantes.
Je fus présenté par lui à mon capitaine, qui revenait à
l'instant même d'une reconnaissance. Ce capitai