June 14, 20261 min read
The Best French-Language Cryptography Books (2026)
3 reference French-language books to learn cryptography, from Jacques Stern's popular science to corrected exercises. Honest reviews.
#cryptography#french#reading-list#foundations
In short: to discover cryptography in French, start with Jacques Stern's La science du secret (popular science by a master); for the formal foundations, Avoine et al.'s course; to practise, Vergnaud's Exercices et problèmes de cryptographie (prefaced by Stern).
The picks at a glance
| Book | Author | Level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| La science du secret | Jacques Stern | Intermediate | The history of crypto by a leading cryptographer (popular science) |
| Sécurité informatique — Cours et exercices corrigés | Avoine, Junod, Oechslin & Pasini | Advanced | The academic course: formal foundations and exercises |
| Exercices et problèmes de cryptographie | Damien Vergnaud | Advanced | 150+ corrected exercises to practise (post-quantum included) |
Where to start
Curious? La science du secret (Stern) reads like a story. Student or engineer? Sécurité informatique — Cours et exercices corrigés (Avoine et al.) for the theory, then Exercices et problèmes de cryptographie (Vergnaud) to practise.
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Frequently asked questions
- Can I learn cryptography in French?
- Yes. Start with Jacques Stern's La science du secret for the story, then Avoine et al.'s course for the formal foundations and Vergnaud's exercise book to practise — all in French.
- Do I need a strong maths background?
- For Stern's popular history, no. For Avoine et al. and Vergnaud, yes — they're university-level texts with real mathematical content.
- Is there a French equivalent of Serious Cryptography?
- Not exactly, but Avoine, Junod, Oechslin & Pasini's course is the closest French academic treatment, and Vergnaud's exercises cover modern (including post-quantum) constructions.