From Ancient Gaul to Napoleon and beyond, Robb's rollicking history of France streamlines thousands of years of tumultuous events into a pulsating narrative rich in intrepid adventure.
Original, knowledgeable and endlessly entertaining, France: An Adventure History is an unforgettable journey through France from the first century BC to the present day.
Drawn from countless new discoveries and thirty years of exploring France on foot, in the library and across 30,000 miles on the author's beloved bike, it begins with Gaulish and Roman times and ends in the age of #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, the Gilets Jaunes and Covid-19.
From the plains of Provence to the slums and boulevards of Paris, events and themes of French history may be familiar - Louis XIV, the French Revolution, the French Resistance, the Tour de France - but all are presented in a shining new light.
Frequently hilarious, always surprising, this is a sweeping panorama, teeming with characters, stories and coincidences, and offering a thrilling sense of discovery and enlightenment. A vivid, living history of one of the world's most fascinating nations, it will make even seasoned Francophiles wonder if they really know that terra incognita which is currently referred to as 'France'.
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781529007657
Number of pages: 544
Weight: 406 g
Dimensions: 199 x 130 x 34 mm
A stunning history of France... Graham Robb deserves to be a national treasure. - Spectator
A quirky chronicle of our neighbour . . . a witty, free-ranging homage to the French people. - The Times
Robb's concise and fast-paced writing pedals along with never a dull paragraph . . . a dazzling and moving contribution to a long tradition. - Sunday Times
Traverses the ages from Gaul to the gilets jaunes and the pandemic . . . a compelling guide. - Times Literary Supplement
History on two wheels and in four dimensions. - Wall Street Journal
A rich and vibrant narrative. - Financial Times
Some books seem to spring from a whole lifetime and Graham Robb's France is one of those special creations... Robb's sparkling prose, sly wit and intellectual exuberance make for a gorgeous tapestry of insights, stories and surprises. - Fintan O'Toole
With joy, curiosity and more than a dash of ambition, Robb brings 2,000 years of French history to life. - Washington Post
This is a book of several parts, a standard history, a travelogue and a memoir. the three mesh together but not are all as successful. I loved the idea of telling the history of France through a series of places and... More
If you think you know all there is to know about French history, you should read this book. A fantastically fun, innovative new take on infamous faces and a well-trodden path of history, it will make you reconsider... More
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