France: An Adventure History

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Bhí sé ina Cheann Feadhna ar an champa géibhinn a raibh sé féin ina phríosúnach ann i dtuaisceart na Seapáine. Whether Julius Caesar staring at a hedge in ancient, northern Gaul or Napoleon Bonaparte’s remains in Rouen or the burkini ban, Robb’s insightful yet humorous approach to France’s history covers a wide array of topics without losing the focus on details.

The inspirational story of how the love a Belfast Doctor had for his Gaeltacht sweetheart prevailed despite the horrors of captivity in Japanese POW camps during World War Two. 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'. The bloody, barbaric parts of France's history were disturbing and left me with more questions than answers.Along the way, readers will find the usual faces, events and themes of French history – Louis XIV, the French Revolution, the French Résistance, the Tour de France – but all presented in a shining new light.

It is accepted by you that Daunt Books has no control over additional charges in relation to customs clearance. who, what, why, and how of religious wars, of the French Revolution, of the Tour de France and modern-day protests, of the French love of nature, to name a few topics covered by Robb. Please, dear stranger, do not confuse this with what Robb does from beginning to end, which was to follow French history from Vercingetorix's Gaul all the way to Macron's France (the latter is meant without offence). There were many topics I thought would have been covered or explored in more depth, and too many of the digressions were dull or uninteresting.This is an unconventional but fascinating and illuminating approach to telling the story of the French people, and well worth the effort. First couple of chapters were needed to me to appreciate the style and the book came into its stride from the discussion about the tree at the centre of France - spotted on an old map and one of the places our author went to investigate. The notion behind this book is to tell the stories behind various obscure places in France that the author and his wife have visited by bicycle. Although this isn't quite what I was expecting (as with the other Graham Robb book I read), this was a great read. On the other hand, the book only discusses that specific time period in that area and not other time periods in the same area.

Rather difficult to describe, this is not any kind of traditional history but an account of the author's bicycle travels through France to relatively remote places where somewhat obscure events took place that illuminate aspects of French culture. Part travelogue and part essay, this is a lively and thought-provoking homage to the complex and inimitable country that is France. I often had to reread sentences and even entire sections to extract the author’s point (and sometimes failed to do so! In his chapter on Napoleon, he notes: “He was the man whose patriotism was served by wiliness and steely charm combined with ruthless determination --- which is why the epithet napoléonien is applied to Presidents Mitterrand, Sarkozy and Macron rather than to General de Gaulle. Part travelogue and part eclectic episodic history essays that covers certain events from the time of the Roman Empire in France to 2020 (with large gaps in between, a comprehensive time line it is not), this is at times funny, thought-provoking, and gives a flavor of the complex country that is France.

I was looking forward to a pleasing mix of history and travel and instead I got a poorly written and uninteresting book. Different chapters look at specific areas of France and focus on specific periods of time and on specific people. Along the way, readers will find the usual faces, events and themes of French history - Louis XIV, the French Revolution, the French Resistance, the Tour de France - but all presented in a shining new light. An understanding of French history is useful too, as the author just throws you into the topic, with little of a back story. He and teacher Eileen wrote extensively to each other, and it is through these letters and Frank's journals that we gain a remarkable insight into life during these times.

What he has done in this informative and hugely entertaining book is to interest himself in an generally unknown area, open it up and relate it to the broader history of France. For a great read, I would make one critique: I would have liked to have read a bit more about French cultural history.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.