[en] Nearly ten years ago evidence was published for the first of the socalled giant multipole resonances, the giant quadrupole resonance. During the ensuing years research in this new field has spread to many nuclear physics laboratories throughout the world. A review of the present status of electric giant multipole resonances is provided in this presentation. Other presentations to this conference will describe magnetic giant resonances, giant resonance decay modes, and theoretical implications for the new giant resonances. (orig.)