Items related to The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from...
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War - Hardcover
Synopsis
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. 8 pages of color and 8 pages of black-and-white illustrations"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Graham Robb is the author of three prize-winning biographies, each selected as New York Times Best Books. His books, including The Discovery of Middle Earth, Parisians, and The Discovery of France, have earned several awards. He lives on the Anglo-Scottish border.
Reviews
Starred Review. France is often regarded as the center of elegant civilization, so it's surprising to find that as late as 1890, most of the population was far from civilized—outside the confines of sophisticated Paris, as noted biographer Robb explains in his riveting exploration of France's historical geography, great swathes of countryside were terra incognita: dark places inhabited by illiterate tribes professing pre-Christian beliefs and lethally hostile to outsiders. They spoke not French but regional dialects; much of the country had not been accurately mapped; and many in the rural areas lacked surnames. The author himself embarked on a 14,000-mile bicycle tour of the France passed over in tourist guides. The result is a curious, engrossing mix of personal observation, scholarly diligence and historical narrative as Robb discusses the formation of both the French character and the French state. Robb's biographies of Victor Hugo, Rimbaud and Balzac were all selected by the New York Times as among the best books of the year, an accolade that assures a select readership will be eager to pack his newest alongside their Michelin guides. 8 pages of b&w illus, maps. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherW. W. Norton & Company
- Publication date2007
- ISBN 10 0393059731
- ISBN 13 9780393059731
- BindingHardcover
- LanguageEnglish
- Number of pages480
- Rating
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from...
Stock Image
The Discovery of France - A Hi
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Item in very good condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00086599137
Quantity: 1 available
Seller Image
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War
Seller: Dream Books Co., Denver, CO, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. Gently used with minimal wear on the corners and cover. A few pages may contain light highlighting or writing, but the text remains fully legible. Dust jacket may be missing, and supplemental materials like CDs or codes may not be included. May be ex-library with library markings. Ships promptly! Seller Inventory # DBV.0393059731.G
Quantity: 1 available
Seller Image
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War
Seller: ZBK Books, Carlstadt, NJ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. Used book in good and clean conditions. Pages and cover are intact. Limited notes marks and highlighting may be present. May show signs of normal shelf wear and bends on edges. Item may be missing CDs or access codes. May include library marks. Fast Shipping. Seller Inventory # ZWM.MFTP
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War
Seller: More Than Words, Waltham, MA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. . . All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Before placing your order for please contact us for confirmation on the book's binding. Check out our other listings to add to your order for discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # BOS-I-08f-002088
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War
Seller: ThriftBooks-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.89. Seller Inventory # G0393059731I3N00
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.89. Seller Inventory # G0393059731I3N00
Quantity: 1 available
Seller Image
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War
Seller: Bay State Book Company, North Smithfield, RI, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. The book is in good condition with all pages and cover intact, including the dust jacket if originally issued. The spine may show light wear. Pages may contain some notes or highlighting, and there might be a "From the library of" label. Boxed set packaging, shrink wrap, or included media like CDs may be missing. Seller Inventory # BSM.JP50
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.89. Seller Inventory # G0393059731I3N01
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.89. Seller Inventory # G0393059731I3N10
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Discovery of France : A Historical Geography from the Revolution to First World War
Published by
Norton & Company, Incorporated, W. W., 2007
ISBN 10: 0393059731
ISBN 13: 9780393059731
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. 1st American Ed. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 3241959-6
Quantity: 3 available