Patf Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 by Graham Robb. Picador £9.99. I saw a review of this book in the Sunday Times this week and it looks interesting. Seems like a historical review of the various areas of France and their languages. People knew little about other parts of France beyond their own boundaries until the 2 world wars. I think I will order it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thibault Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I have this book and can thoroughly recommend it. It is full of fascinating information and written in a very readable style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaJ Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I recommended this earlier as my best Christmas present last year. It is a brilliant book and a fascinating history of rural France. We also bought some of the books he quotes from as source material, such as Arthur Young's travels in rural France, at the time of the revolution.regardsLisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 Lisa - I must go round with my eye blinkered [8-)]Just looked and saw your post two below mine - sorry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I've just bought it - arrived a few days ago (courtesy of Amazon you know), and I took a peek at it this morning, then thought - no - never get any work done .... so on back burner for now, though it does look fascinating.If you like that, you might also like Three Rivers of France by Freda White, who describes her travels in the Dordogne, Lot and Tarn, in the years immediately after the war (WWII that is). Originally published in 1952 by Faber and Faber (a name to conjure with!), it is long out of print. I managed to obtain a second hand copy, which I read avidly at least 10 years ago, and thought, wow, this is exactly the characteristics of these people I still see and love. At the time we were visiting 47 where we had (and still have) a family maison secondaire) so it was describing an area I knew well. The descriptions are superb - she is still regarded as one of the best writers on France.Originally I had borrowed the book from the library, and had then bought a new edition, which included colour photos and updated the recommendations of places to stay, but it does not have the same feeling as the original, which is all text and no pictures. I can't give you the bibliographic details for the new book as it is already in our house in France, whereas the old edition is still with me in London. It'll be joining its sister edition soon, with luck.I've yet to find any book which so describes the old way of life in the department I'm about to go and live in. Perhaps Robb's book will do that - we'll see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaJ Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 No need to apologize Pat - just enjoy it, it's a great book and so different from the genre "I've moved to France and I'm going to try and make some money by turning out a load of stereotypical rubbish without any research"......regardsLisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I've just taken delivery of the Graham Robb book and started dipping into it. My first impressions are that it is very readable and full of interest. Thanks for the recommendation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 I'm about half way through the book now and although it's very interesting, I find it heavy going. There are so many facts that they need to be digested, so I can only read a little at a time. Normally I read a book very fast then go back over it in sections. You can't do that with this book.On the other hand it gives insight into some french characteristics, such as their different attitude to the work ethic. Just guessing, but perhaps something to do with agricuture being more widespread here than in the UK. Farming work comes in fits and starts, rather than constant plodding on.And the sections on maps and roads explain a lot too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaJ Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I now know that when you drive through those totally deserted villages, that they have all gone to bed for the winter to conserve energy......regardsL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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