French literature

The Robert Greer Cohn Book Collection houses books concerning French studies, particularly on poet Stéphane Mallarmé (1842-1898) and his contemporaries, such as Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, and Arthur Rimbaud.

The Commonplace Book Collection contains a bound volume of various published poems and songs handwritten onto the pages of the journal. Written in two separate hands, the journal appears to have been exchanged among two friends who alternately scribed favorite poems.

The Pascal Pia Book Collection, 1901-1999, consists of the personal library of French writer Pascal Pia (1903-1979), as well as books related to Pia.

The Hervé Vilez-Paul Verlaine Book Collection, 1820s-2010s, consists of French literature related to symbolist poet Verlaine. The collection provides in-depth coverage of Verlaine’s life and works, and it ranges from original 19th century newspaper clippings that highlight the poet’s contribution to the contemporary literary scene to modern works that prove his continual influence in the 21st century, as well as original paintings, drawings, and other artistic creations.

The Morris Wachs Book Collection, 1660s-1980s, consists mostly of French literature collected by Wachs. The collection is particularly rich in rare popular fiction, providing an insight into the literary tastes of the eighteenth-century. Overall, the collection represents material of the Enlightenment, ranging from orientalism, satire, novels, epistolary fiction, almanacs, and fictional travel accounts.