Description

A Spectator and Prospect Book of the Year
Winner of the American Library in Paris Book Award

‘Ceaselessly interesting, knowledgeable and evocative’ – Spectator
‘A fresh way to write history’ – Alan Johnson
‘An amused, erudite homage to France . . . ambitious and original’ – The Times
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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 by Graham Robb.

Frequently hilarious, always surprising, this is a 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’.
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‘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

Publisher Review

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 *