France

An Adventure History

Graham Robb

$24.99

Paperback

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English

Picador
08 August 2023

History; European history; Social & cultural history; French Revolution; Travel writing; Expeditions

A SPECTATOR and PROSPECT Book of 2022

'Ceaselessly interesting, knowledgeable and evocative' - Spectator 'A fresh way to write history' - Alan Johnson 'A quirky, amused, erudite homage to France . . . ambitious and original' - The Times

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'.

'Packed full of discoveries' - The Sunday Times 'A gorgeous tapestry of insights, stories and surprises' - Fintan O'Toole 'A rich and vibrant narrative . . . clear-eyed but imaginative storytelling' - Financial Times 'Full of life' - Prospect

By: Graham Robb
Imprint: Picador
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 199mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 34mm
Weight: 406g
ISBN: 9781529007657
ISBN 10: 1529007658
Pages: 544
Publication Date: 08 August 2023
Recommended Age: From 18 years
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Graham Robb was born in Manchester in 1958 and is a former fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. He has published widely on French literature and history. His 2007 book The Discovery of France won both the Duff Cooper and Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prizes. For Parisians the City of Paris awarded him the Grande Medaille de la Ville de Paris. He lives on the English-Scottish border.

Reviews for France: An Adventure History

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 *