recueil

Recueil is a French noun meaning a collection or compilation of written works. It is commonly used to describe a book that gathers poems, short stories, essays, or other pieces—either by a single author or arranged by an editor from various authors. In bibliographic terms, a recueil can be a debut poetry collection, a volume of a novelist’s shorter works, or a miscellaneous assortment organized around a theme.

Etymology: The word comes from Old French recueil, formed from the verb recueillir “to gather, to collect,” with re- implying bringing together again and cueillir meaning “to pick, gather.” It denotes the end product of gathering works into one volume.

Usage: In literature, recueil is often contrasted with anthology (anthologie) or ouvrage. A recueil of poetry is typically a single author’s volume, though editors may assemble a curated collection that resembles an anthology. The term also appears in legal or administrative contexts to denote an official compilation, such as Recueil des lois or Recueil des arrêts, meaning a codified collection of laws or court decisions.

English considerations: In practice, recueil is usually translated as “collection,” “poetry collection,” or “anthology,” depending on whether the emphasis is on a single author or multiple authors. The word highlights the format of the volume—the gathering of individual pieces into a unified book.