The Discovery of France Book

'With gloriously apposite facts and an abundance of quirky anecdotes and thumbnail sketches of people places and customs Robb on brilliant form takes us on a stunning journey through the historical landscape of France' - "Independent". Illuminating engrossing and full of surprises "The Discovery of France" is a literary exploration of a country few will recognize; from maps and migration to magic language and landscape it's a book that reveals the 'real' past of France to tell the whole story - and history - of this remarkable nation. 'Certain books strain the patience of those close to you. How many times can you demand: 'Look at this! Can you imagine? Did you know that?' without actually handing over the volume? This is such a book' - "Mail on Sunday". 'Writing with humour but without condescension with understanding but without naivety Robb brilliantly reconstructs a world we have lost. There is hardly a page that does not contain a detail that is illuminating surprising or entertaining and often all three' - "Sunday Telegraph". 'This splendid history of France mixes the rambling charm of a traveller with a scholar's rigorous research' - "Daily Telegraph".'Robb's concise and fast-paced writing pedals along with never a dull paragraph as facts events characters and quotations flash by ...The British love affair with France makes this particular story special and Robb from his two-wheeled vantage point has made a dazzling and moving contribution to a long tradition' - "Sunday Times'.

The perfect holiday read (pre, post or during) Illuminating, engrossing and full of surprises, The Discovery of France is a literary exploration of a country few will recognize; from maps and migration to magic, language and landscape...