newbiee Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Has anybody read any that they would recommend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mik from LA Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 The discovery of France by Graham Robb ISBN978-0-330-42760-9Interesting and very readable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Here, have a look at this thread:http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1197834/ShowPost.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plod Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 "La Vie en Bleu" by Rod Kedward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 I was going to suggest Colin Jones Cambridge History, but I see it is already mentioned on the other link. Excellent though, and I'd heartily recommend it.Another one, is Robert Cole: a traveller's history of France (Windrush - 0 9000075 45 7) 1988, which is also excellent but more of a potted version. Both of these books have further references to follow up.Graham Robb is interesting, but I'm only on chapter 2 - it's a solid read, though very readable, there are lots of facts to assimilate, so it's slow progress.If you want to come more up to date, John Ardagh has written at least one book: France in the new century (my version a Penquin, 0 14 025922 8) 2000, but it might have been updated since. I've not quite found the time to read that one - yet, but I believe he is considered to be knowledgeable and readable. It will now have to wait until I have achieved my move to France next month, as it will soon be in a box! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 I'm reading the Jean Plaidy French Revolution trilogy which is a pleasant enough way to absorb some of the facts even if they are wrapped up in fiction. Apparently Jean Plaidy was a good researcher and lots of the situations are factual - at this moment Marie Antionette still has her head.......How dangerous reading 'faction' is I'll leave others to judge...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Thanks, Judith, for posting. My interest in the Ardagh has been awakened and I shall want to follow it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbiee Posted August 18, 2008 Author Share Posted August 18, 2008 Splendid! [:D]Thanks folks, I look forward to reading some of those recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted August 18, 2008 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Graham Robb's biography of Arthur Rimbaud is also a good read. It's an exciting book, you wonder what Rimbaud is going to get up to next.It gives a bit of literary history of Paris of 1870s. Most of the poets were out of their heads on absinthe.Rimbaud went to live in London for a short time and loved it. He gave up poetry when he was 21, travelled to Africa, and was a trader, explorer, gun runner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chessfou Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 If your language skills are fairly good and you are prepared to integrate* then I can recommend the Larousse series "Histoire de France en bandes dessinées."* The French adore their BD but many Brits sneer at them as being "comics." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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