What better way to relax than with a moment of reading? Reading French novels in their original version can be an excellent way to learn French. The Centre International d’Antibes is located in one of the most beautiful regions of France: the French Riviera. Today, we present a few of the many writers it has inspired. Crime stories, autobiographies, or historical novels—there's something for everyone.
Bestselling author Guillaume Musso — five million books sold — is from Antibes, precisely where the CIA is located. While writing *Afterwards...* (the novel that brought him public acclaim), Musso was a teacher at the Centre International de Valbonne, a school where children and teens from all nationalities come together. Yes, this region is truly cosmopolitan, and that cultural mix has inspired several novels, including Raoul Mille’s trilogy *Le Paradis de tempêtes*. In this series, we follow the story of an impossible love between an Englishman and a Frenchwoman at the end of the 18th century. At the Centre International d’Antibes, adults can immerse themselves in this rich literary and artistic heritage.
Many French and Francophone authors passed through the French Riviera, and some even spent their childhood there. Such is the case of the famous Romain Gary, the only writer to win the Prix Goncourt twice—the second time under the pseudonym Emile Ajar. Newly arrived from Vilnius with his mother, Romain Gary joined the Lycée Masséna in Nice, where he spent his teenage years. He recounts this period in his autobiography *The Promise of Dawn*. Max Gallo, born in Nice to Italian immigrant parents, also worked at Lycée Masséna as a teacher. A member of the Académie Française, he wrote numerous historical novels, including the series *La Baie des Anges*, a tribute to the beach of the same name stretching from Nice to Saint-Laurent-du-Var. Today, the French Riviera continues to inspire both young and adult learners: alongside us at the Centre International d’Antibes, everyone can experience cultural and linguistic immersion, whether through a junior or adult program.
Writers’ fascination with the Bay of Angels is nothing new! Guy de Maupassant himself wrote *On the Water* after traveling through the region aboard his boat, the *Bel-Ami*. In this tale, he describes, among other things, the famous Croisette promenade in Cannes. A fan of detective novels? In *Liberty Bar*, the iconic Commissioner Maigret—created by Georges Simenon—ventures to Antibes to solve the mysterious murder of a wealthy Australian. Finally, we must mention two influential women writers in French literature who also let the Riviera sun inspire their work: Françoise Sagan in her coming-of-age novel *Bonjour Tristesse*, and Colette in *L’entrave*. Learning French through literature is a great way to combine pleasure with progress. Dive into one of these novels and follow in the footsteps of your favorite characters between Nice and Antibes. And to complement your reading, take French classes in France through our programs for all levels and ages!
