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Graham Robb

The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography

by Graham Robb (Author) Format: Paperback

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"A witty, engaging narrative style…[Robb's] approach is particularly engrossing." ―New York Times Book Review

A narrative of exploration―full of strange landscapes and even stranger inhabitants―that explains the enduring fascination of France. While Gustave Eiffel was changing the skyline of Paris, large parts of France were still terra incognita. Even in the age of railways and newspapers, France was a land of ancient tribal divisions, prehistoric communication networks, and pre-Christian beliefs. French itself was a minority language.

Graham Robb describes that unknown world in arresting narrative detail. He recounts the epic journeys of mapmakers, scientists, soldiers, administrators, and intrepid tourists, of itinerant workers, pilgrims, and herdsmen with their millions of migratory domestic animals. We learn how France was explored, charted, and colonized, and how the imperial influence of Paris was gradually extended throughout a kingdom of isolated towns and villages.

The Discovery of France explains how the modern nation came to be and how poorly understood that nation still is today. Above all, it shows how much of France―past and present―remains to be discovered.

A New York Times Notable Book, Publishers Weekly Best Book, Slate Best Book, and Booklist Editor's Choice.

16 pages of illustrations

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Print length

496 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

October 17, 2008
Dimensions

5.5 x 1.4 x 8.3 inches
ISBN-10

0393333647
ISBN-13

978-0393333640

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From the Publisher

	The Debatable Land: The Lost World Between Scotland and England	The Discovery of Middle Earth: Mapping the Lost World of the Celts	The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography	Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris	France: An Adventure History

Customer Reviews	315	202	427	243	295
Price	$15.89	$16.95	$18.63	$16.94	$8.13
About the Book	Rich in detail and epic in scope, The Debatable Land provides a crucial, missing piece in the puzzle of British history.	This history offers nothing less than an entirely new understanding of the birth of modern Europe.	A narrative of exploration―full of strange landscapes and even stranger inhabitants―that explains the enduring fascination of France.	This is the Paris you never knew.	A wholly original history of France, filled with a lifetime’s knowledge and passion―by the author of the New York Times bestseller Parisians.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brilliant. Robb, who writes beautifully…has accomplished quite a feat. He has reintroduced France to itself."
― William Grimes, New York Times

"Scintillating and resourceful."
― Harper's

About the Author

Graham Robb is the author of several award-winning books on literature and history. His 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 Médaille de la Ville de Paris. He lives on the English–Scottish border.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 17, 2008
Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393333647
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393333640
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.4 x 8.3 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #284,737 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #65 in Historical Geography
- #169 in French History (Books)
Customer Reviews:
(427)

About the author

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Graham Robb

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Graham Robb, whose recent books include "The Discovery of France" and "Parisians," has published widely in French literature and history. His biographies of Balzac, Victor Hugo, and Rimbaud have won critical acclaim and were selected as New York Times Editor’s Choices for best books of the year. Robb lives in Oxford, England.

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Customer reviews

427 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative about France's recent history and early days, with one noting how it combines history, map-making, and exploration. Moreover, they appreciate its content, teaching them more about the country as a whole, and find it entertaining and well-written. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its readability and storytelling approach. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with several customers noting it jumps around chronologically.

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62 customers mention informative, 57 positive, 5 negative

Customers find the book informative, particularly praising its view of France's recent history and early days. They are mesmerized by the historical references to places, customs, and traditions, with one customer noting how it provides not just facts but the spirit of the times and places described.

An interesting, scholarly, amusing and unexpected look at what makes the French the French....Read more

A very entertaining and informative book. It deserves all the praise it has gotten. Many time I found myself thinking: Surely this can't be true!...Read more

This was a very well reviewed book about an interesting subject....Read more

...Beautifully researched, analyzed, and written. Required reading. Just brilliant.Read more

42 customers mention content, 35 positive, 7 negative

Customers praise the book's content, finding it an eye-opener that teaches them more about France as a whole, with one customer noting it reveals a portrait of a nation.

...A good book for someone who knows France well. Not an introduction.Read more

...This book makes me think of France differently.Read more

...is beautifully written, instantly grabbing, and most of the time a real page-turner....Read more

...But.... a good read. I learned so much. Glad I read it. Made me want to go back to France soon.Read more

35 customers mention entertaining, 31 positive, 4 negative

Customers find the book fascinating and entertaining, with one customer noting it provides interesting tidbits and appetizers to keep readers engaged.

Interesting. It feels as though you are there. I could visualize everything as I was reading. He's a very picturesque writer.Read more

Fascinating and entirely absorbing; an in depth account of the cultural origins of The French, the relatively recent achievement of national unity...Read more

Entertaining and informative history of a France not so well known.Read more

Shall we say this author has a very different perspective? Entertaining to read, but I did not find his case terribly convincingRead more

21 customers mention writing style, 18 positive, 3 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, finding it well-crafted and engaging, with one customer noting it is invaluable for writing historical fiction novels.

...This is an excellent book, very well written, definitely worth reading.Read more

...Beautifully researched, analyzed, and written. Required reading. Just brilliant.Read more

Well written account of how France became France. Highly recommend to any one who is interested in European history.Read more

Good author, book arrived in perfect shape.Read more

10 customers mention readability, 8 positive, 2 negative

Customers find the book very readable, with one mentioning they could visualize everything while reading.

...Beautifully researched, analyzed, and written. Required reading. Just brilliant.Read more

...It is an easy read, and entertaining....Read more

...Full of original and surprising facts. Easy reading, as a narrative.Read more

Reads somewhat like a textbook and it jumps around chronologically. But.... a good read. I learned so much. Glad I read it....Read more

7 customers mention story, 5 positive, 2 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling approach of the book, with one describing it as one of the greatest histories they have ever read.

...It's a story interesting, surprising, and unusual, but it's a story worth telling, and it helps make all the rest of the story make even more...Read more

...An interesting journey, worth the time for armchair travelers, that like to accumulate knowledge about the world and its people....Read more

...Which trailed off at the end, drew few conclusions, and pointed out human stupidity. But did suggest that travel in France could be interesting....Read more

I like this style of history books, more of a story telling than the other boring dry stuff....Read more

9 customers mention unexpected, 6 positive, 3 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's content, with some finding it surprising and truly unique, while others mention it was not what they expected.

An interesting, scholarly, amusing and unexpected look at what makes the French the French....Read more

Not what I expected. Better than I expected.Read more

...immensely fascinating country called France, Robb's book provides a truly unique and informative view of the country's recent history that stands...Read more

...It was completely unexpected. It was such a unique and fascinating book on a country that has never really held my interest....Read more

9 customers mention pacing, 2 positive, 7 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book unsatisfactory, with several noting that it jumps around chronologically, and one customer mentioning that it dragged in the middle.

...nature of various regions, especially France,I found this book to be longwinded, uninteresting, and it is the first book I have ever returned....Read more

...I finished it and was interested, though it dragged a little in the middle....Read more

...Which trailed off at the end, drew few conclusions, and pointed out human stupidity. But did suggest that travel in France could be interesting....Read more

...There are a number of jaw dropping chapters - such as "hibernating" all winter long to reduce the need for food.Read more

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