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Although linguistic studies often focus on orality, literary studies generally give uneven attention to its representation, as writing has dominated European literature for centuries. Over time, however, the oral voice has continued to be heard within fictional writing, which has retained its connections to epic and storytelling traditions. Modern and contemporary writers even claim and explore its critical and creative potential. This volume brings together fifteen contributions that examine the forms and significance of orality in narrative fiction. Through first-person narratives, theatrical-style dialogues, or the inclusion of dialects to lend authenticity, orality shapes the world of the novel by simultaneously imitating reality and enhancing storytelling. The selected corpus, highlighting the diversity of French-language literatures, explores the range of techniques used to make characters' voices heard, staged, and individualized. A diachronic perspective—from eighteenth-century fiction to contemporary works—reveals the echoes and variations of orality across time and space, particularly between the shores of the Mediterranean.

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