Volume 1 of this book is a work that deals with the history of French literature and some of its leading authors from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. Its subject content includes the Foreword, the Preface, the National French Program of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the country of origin of its author and the consumer to whom it is addressed first, and then to all French-speaking countries. Following the first introductory part, we have the material itself which is divided into six main points: the Historical Context which dwells on generalities, notably the French language from its origin to the present day; the literary Middle Ages; the Renaissance and Humanism; Classicism and the Eighteenth Century commonly called the Age of Enlightenment or the Philosophical Century. Finally, bibliographical notes, an index and a table of contents complete this work.