The Discovery of FranceThe Discovery of France
a Historical Geography From the Revolution to the First World War
Title rated 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 39 ratings(39 ratings)
Book, 2007
Current format, Book, 2007, 1st American ed, All copies in use.Book, 2007
Current format, Book, 2007, 1st American ed, All copies in use. Offered in 0 more formatsA narrative exploration of France's lesser-known landscapes and inhabitants celebrates the country's ancient tribes, prehistoric networks, and early religions, in a historical tour that offers insight into how France was explored, charted, and colonized outside of regions under imperial influence. 25,000 first printing.
An exploration of France's rural landscapes and inhabitants celebrates the country's ancient tribes, prehistoric networks, and early religions, offering insight into how France was explored, charted, and colonized outside of regions under imperial influence.
An exploration of France's rural landscapes and inhabitants celebrates the country's ancient tribes, prehistoric networks, and early religions, offering insight into how France was explored, charted, and colonized outside of regions under imperial influence.ce.
Drawing on his extensive bicycle journeys as well as research in the library, Robb, a British scholar of French literature and history, describes the lives of the inhabitants of France, when possible through their own eyes, and the exploration and colonization of their land by foreigners and natives from the late 17th century to the early 20th. He generally follows a chronological track, but finds himself betimes in pre-Roman Gaul or present-day France. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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 narrative of exploration—full of strange landscapes and even stranger inhabitants—that explains the enduring fascination of France.
The Discovery of France
An exploration of France's rural landscapes and inhabitants celebrates the country's ancient tribes, prehistoric networks, and early religions, offering insight into how France was explored, charted, and colonized outside of regions under imperial influence.
An exploration of France's rural landscapes and inhabitants celebrates the country's ancient tribes, prehistoric networks, and early religions, offering insight into how France was explored, charted, and colonized outside of regions under imperial influence.ce.
Drawing on his extensive bicycle journeys as well as research in the library, Robb, a British scholar of French literature and history, describes the lives of the inhabitants of France, when possible through their own eyes, and the exploration and colonization of their land by foreigners and natives from the late 17th century to the early 20th. He generally follows a chronological track, but finds himself betimes in pre-Roman Gaul or present-day France. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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 narrative of exploration—full of strange landscapes and even stranger inhabitants—that explains the enduring fascination of France.
The Discovery of France
Title availability
About
Subject and genre
Opinion
More from the community
Community lists featuring this title
There are no community lists featuring this title
Community contributions
There are no quotations from this title
There are no quotations from this title
From the community