World's Greatest Novelists

I firmly believe that Balzac, Stendhal and Proust are the greatest novelists who ever lived.

The best of the non-French novelists is Henry James and he did love his Paris.

Although I spent two years living in France as a child I despair of ever acquiring a correct accent now.

I desperately want to learn to read French. Short of moving to France, what can be done to jump start me in learning to enjoy my favorites in their own language?

Check out your local community college. They often offer courses in the fundamentals as well as basic-advanced conversation courses. I hear that Rosetta Stone is quite good for French - but, for me, nothing beats interpesonal exchange. Many metropolitan communities often have some version of L'Alliance Francaise, as well. Bonne chance.

Watch French movies, TV if possible. Listen to French radio (wonderfully easy online nowadays, dozens of stations offer audiostreams). At home I sometimes have France Culture running in the background while I'm doing chores... It makes housekeeping seem less like a complete waste of time. :)

France 2 (www.france2.fr) is a good place for news in France and around the world. You can watch the newscasts online too!

All those suggestions are good, but don't forget to do it for HOURS. Your hangups will slowly disolve if after hours and hours of listening to whatever you chose (radio or tv in french). You have to be afloat in it to suddently realize that you know how to swim:) I mean it. English came to me after six month as an au pair girl, in a home constantly tuned to tv children cartoons.