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The Discovery of France

It's easy to reduce France to the sum of its parts: weekend breaks amid the culture of Paris or summer holidays basking in the sunshine of the south; accounts of the Revolution - Madame Defarge knitting beside the guillotine - and Napoleon's battle at Waterloo (mis)remembered from school history lessons; a country famous for its intellectuals its philosophers and writers its fashion food and wine. Despite this however the notion of 'the French' as one nation is relatively recent and - historically speaking - quite misleading; in order to discover the 'real' past of France it's not only necessary to go back in time but also to go at a slower pace than modern life generally allows: this book is the result of 14 000 miles covered by bicycle (and four years spent in the library). It is at last a book which tells the whole story. 'Funny enterprisingly researched and undertaken with few apparent preconceptions ...This is an excellent amusing decent book which covers an enormous amount of ground in a little space' - Philp Hensher "Spectator".'A fascinating study of a complex subject written with humanity sceptical intelligence and an impressive command of the sources' - "Daily Telegraph". 'A fascinating mix of personal testimony and judiciously filleted history' - "The Times". Brilliant lead review in the Daily Telegraph: 'This splendid history of France mixes the rambling charm of a traveller with a scholar's rigorous research. 'Fascinating' This splendid book - at once history psychogeography itinerary and cabinet of curiosities - owes much of its charm to Robb's own meticulous discovery of France. The Discovery of France isn't just a compendium of fascinating trivia though the trivia is fascinating. It's also an astute sociological catalogue of France's changing idea of itself. It's an extraordinary journey of discovery that will delight even the most indolent armchair traveller. 'Elegant entertaining and occasionally brilliant. As this book powerfully demonstrates French history is nothing if not built on paradox and contradiction. Most importantly Robb reminds us why France still matters. - Observer 'Few foreigners have immersed themselves in France as deeply as Graham Robb an engrossing historical guidebook. Robb's book is scattered with 'vivid gems'. The reader is left hoping that Robb will hop back on his bike to explain how this rediscovered France evolved into the country it is today. - Financial Times Fantastic 4-star review in the Mail on Sunday: 'Certain books strain the patience of those close to you. How many times can you demand: Look at this! Can you imagine? Did you know that? without actually handing over the volume? This is such a book. In between writing outstanding biographies... Graham Robb has cycled some 14 000 miles through France. What he's created is an intellectual roadmap for modern France. Robb's writing is elegant and often funny. Above all he can tell great stories. Like the country this book offers discovery through hundreds of intriguing maddening sometimes puzzling vignettes. Whether you love France or find it infuriating there's much to enjoy and wonder over here. It's not so much a cool linear account as a mosaic like the patchwork pays of France herself - Mail on Sunday
 
 


Category: History
Condition: New
ISBN: 9780330427609  Published: 2007
Author: Graham Robb  
Publisher: Pan Macmillan





                      
                      
                      



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