Book excerpt: French for Reading and Translation is a comprehensive introduction to French grammar and vocabulary for those who want to learn to read and understand French, either to conduct academic research or to experience French literature in its original form. Rather than explaining every grammatical concept in tedious detail, the book gives easy-to-follow explanations followed by abundant examples and opportunities to see the language in use. It encourages readers to learn vocabulary by showing them how to break it down and how to recognize related words. It gives learners the opportunity to use various reading strategies as they apply this newfound knowledge to the French passages provided. An engaging guide that will help readers decode the intricacies of the French language, this is an ideal resource for graduate students and researchers consulting French sources.