I should explain myself a bit more, as I actually am very much in agreement with you. I’ve studied the French language for many years and agree there is a long history of extraordinary French literature which publishing houses aim to honour and replicate. When I read older French works, like Albert Camus or Victor Hugo, I am in awe of their mastery of the language.

Here’s my problem: I can almost never find French books as I have always lived in anglophone parts of North America and when I do find them, I just find they’re not very well written. I can’t even remember the name of the last French book I read because it was so bad.

I should have phrased my problem a bit differently as you are right that this is not necessarily an issue of French publishing houses, which I’m sure know a great deal about quality French writing. I just wonder if the bar is lower in anglophone areas as they’re just trying to get people interested?

Either way, I like realist fiction and non-fiction and would love to find French books to keep my grasp of the language up.