📖 Overview
Le Livre des citations is a comprehensive collection of quotations compiled by French lexicographer Pierre Larousse in the 19th century. The volume contains thousands of citations from French literature, philosophy, history and culture.
The book organizes quotations by theme and subject matter, with detailed indexes and attributions for each entry. Larousse drew from classical works, contemporary writings, and oral traditions to create this reference work.
The citations span multiple centuries of French intellectual history, capturing key ideas and memorable phrases from major thinkers and writers. References range from ancient philosophers to Enlightenment scholars to 19th century poets and novelists.
This foundational text serves as both a window into French cultural heritage and a practical reference tool, highlighting the evolution of French thought and language across different eras and domains.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Pierre Larousse's overall work:
Limited reader reviews exist for Pierre Larousse's original works, as they were published in the 1800s. Modern users primarily interact with updated versions published by Éditions Larousse.
What readers appreciate:
- Clear organization and accessibility of information
- Integration of cultural context with definitions
- Quality of illustrations and visual elements
- Regular updates that maintain relevance
Common criticisms:
- Price point of comprehensive editions
- Physical weight/bulk of multi-volume sets
- Some users note occasional political bias in historical entries
Online ratings and reviews:
- Modern Larousse dictionaries average 4.3/5 on Amazon.fr (1,200+ reviews)
- Petit Larousse: 4.5/5 on Goodreads (90+ reviews)
- Users frequently comment on the reference works' durability and practical layout
One French teacher noted: "The cultural notes make this more than just a dictionary - it's a window into French civilization." A student reviewer wrote: "Heavy to carry but worth the weight for the depth of information."
📚 Similar books
The Yale Book of Quotations by Fred R. Shapiro
This collection presents 13,000 verified quotations with detailed source citations and historical context similar to Larousse's scholarly approach.
The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Quotations by Elizabeth Knowles The volume traces the origins and evolution of contemporary quotes through primary sources and documentation.
The New Penguin Dictionary of Historical Quotations by M.J. Cohen This reference work provides chronological organization and historical background for quotes from ancient times through modern day.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations by John Bartlett This comprehensive collection includes 25,000 quotations spanning ancient to modern times with detailed attribution and cross-referencing.
Dictionary of French Quotations by Norman Denny This compilation focuses on French literary and historical quotes with original French text and English translations.
The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Quotations by Elizabeth Knowles The volume traces the origins and evolution of contemporary quotes through primary sources and documentation.
The New Penguin Dictionary of Historical Quotations by M.J. Cohen This reference work provides chronological organization and historical background for quotes from ancient times through modern day.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations by John Bartlett This comprehensive collection includes 25,000 quotations spanning ancient to modern times with detailed attribution and cross-referencing.
Dictionary of French Quotations by Norman Denny This compilation focuses on French literary and historical quotes with original French text and English translations.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔖 Pierre Larousse published this collection of quotations in 1863, during the height of the Second French Empire
📚 The book was an early precursor to the now-famous Larousse encyclopedic dictionaries and reference works
💭 Many of the citations were carefully categorized by theme, including morality, philosophy, and literature - an innovative approach at the time
📖 Pierre Larousse personally selected and verified each quotation, rejecting thousands of commonly misattributed or inaccurate quotes that were circulating in France
🎨 The original edition featured elegant typography and decorative elements typical of 19th-century French publishing, making it both a reference work and a collectible volume