The Encyclopaedia of the Algerian poetry of French language, 1930-2008 represents 157 poets and is in two volumes, respectively of 462 pages and 494 pages with an introduction of 112 pages. Each poet has a short biography, a summary bibliography and an analysis of his work, then follow the poems the number of which varies according to the importance of the author. Poems or extracts are taken from several collections, when necessary.
Algerian poetry in French language appeared in the 1930's, after the publication of Ashes of Jean El Mouhouv Amrouche. The prominent Algerian poets appear in the 1940's and 1950's: Kateb Yacine, Mohamed Dib, Jean Sénac, Anna Greki, Henri Krea, and their themes are linked to the condition of the people and the country, colonized by France since 1830. After the independence, Algerian poetry enlarges its themes and styles with Djamel Amrani, Rachid Boudjedra, Nordine Tidafi, Messaour Bouanouar, Mourad Bourboune, Malek Alloula, Malek Haddad, Djamel Moknachi… The 1970's, 1980's and 1990's impose new authors, who give more importance to their own preoccupations and to universal subjects: Nature, life, death, beauty… Among these poets, also concerned by stylistic and technical questions. are: Youcef Sebti, Tahar Djaout, Mohamed Sehaba, Amine Khane, Arezki Metref, Fari Mammeri, Ali El Hadj Tahar, Farès Babouri, Abdellatif Benchehida, Hamid Amir, Sélim Baghli, Fatiha Senouci, Youce, Madi Abane… While being also interested by modernity and the elaboration of new forms of poetic writing, these authors remain attached to the beauty of writing, to the image and the symbol, to the clarity of the text and its comprehension. They also are very respectful to the authors of the past, where they Western or Eastern. If French poetry marked Algerian modern poetry, for well known historical reasons, ante Islamic Arab poetry and Algerian traditional poetry in popular language also marked this poetry in French language. The 1980's generation, who was sensitive to the political commitment and to the international solidarity of the Damned in Earth, felt close to Pablo Neruda, Hikmet and Lorca. Refusing fashions and facility, the Algerian poetry in French language is an alive and demanding expression which reflects the heart and the soul of a nation while being a very personal expression of the authors themselves. It also reflects the landscapes and the culture of a country, its geography, history and inheritance, which are part of the vast and rich Mediterranean area.