Category: Books on France

A new biography by Caroline Moorehead “Dancing to the Precipice: The Life of Lucie de la Tour du Pin and the French Revolution” tells the tale of a woman who witnessed one of the most dramatic periods of history  while playing the part of observer, commentator and sometimes participant. Continue reading “Dancing to the Precipice… one woman’s story”

Foreign Tongue: A Novel of Life and Love in Paris by Vanina Marsot tells the tale of pragmatic professional writer Anna, who has been unlucky in love in L.A., and has come to Paris with keys to her aunt’s empty apartment. Bilingual and blessed with dual citizenship, she seeks solace in the delectable pastries, in the company of old friends, and in her exciting new job: translating a mysterious, erotic French novel by an anonymous author. Intrigued by the story, and drawn in by the mystery behind the book, Anna soon finds herself among the city’s literati-and in the arms of an alluring Parisian-as she resolves to explore who she is . . . in both cultures.

 

Paris is one of those cities that evokes passions and Canadian author Keith Spicer shares his with a new book “Paris Passion, Watching the French Being Brilliant and Bizarre.”   ” She seduced me when I was twenty.” says Spicer ” Half a century later, I’m still her head-over-heels love-addict. Over the centuries, Paris has snared countless lovers, but she always seems to have room for one or two more.” Continue reading “Paris Passions”

John Baxter, author of “We’ll Always Have Paris,” has come out with a new book on France just in time for the holidays which is sure to please those Francophiles on your gift list. A witty cultural and culinary education, Immoveable Feast is the charming, funny, and improbable tale of how a man who was raised on white bread-and didn’t speak a word of French-unexpectedly ended up with the sacred duty of preparing the annual Christmas dinner for a venerable Parisian family. Continue reading “A Paris Christmas”

“I wrote A Revolution in Taste: The Rise of French Cuisine,” says author Susan Pinkard, “because I am fascinated by the intersection of the routines of everyday life with the world of ideas.” This splendid book just out for the holidays looks at one of the world’s most famous cuisines and how it got that way. Continue reading “A Revolution in Taste…”

If Parisians seem more sexually sophisticated than their anglo-Saxon counterparts, it’s only because they’ve had a long time to perfect their naughty ways. Paris is a city where the quest for joie de vivre has long been taken to its debauched extremes, with a reputation as a capital of forbidden pleasures and illicit indulgences spanning centuries. From royal dalliances of Reine Margot in the 16th century to the high-class brothels of the early 20th century, even today we remain enchanted and fascinated by the tales of those who once made Paris their playground for erotic exploits. Continue reading “A Naughty Parisian History Primer”

This new book by Eric Karpeles is a visual companion to Marcel Proust’s monumental twentieth century work  “In Search of Lost Time,” one of the most expansive literary creations ever written. It celebrates the close relationship between the visual and literary arts in Proust’s masterpiece. Author Eric Karpeles has combined his experiences as painter and writer to create a lavishly illustrated book that illuminates the winding corridors of Proust’s labyrinthine masterpiece. Continue reading “Paintings in Proust”

The French have an enormous passion for their food… for cooking it, shopping for it and eating it. This book written by Trish Deseine, who has lived in France for 20 years, is recommended for anyone wishing to pick up a little of that passion. It explores the fabulous edible heritage of France’s countryside, where every village seems to have its speciality. With recipes like navarin, a simple delicate lamb stew perfect for a springtime lunch, to pan bagnat, the famous fishermen’s salade Nicoise sandwich, this guide from one of France’s top cookbook authors brings readers a welcome taste of France.

 

Camuto’s interest in wine turned into a passion when he moved to France and began digging into local soils and cellars. Corkscrewed recounts Camuto’s journey through France’s myriad regions-and how the journey brought about a profound change in everything he believed about wine. Continue reading “Corkscrewed Adventures in the New French Wine Country”

Is it possible to be tired of Paris? Bored with it? Amazingly, it is, and at such times one may long for a brief escape, a short trip into the countryside. To the rescue comes Annabel, a Briton long resident in Paris who has obviously felt the same uneasy stirrings, because she has compiled a very attractive assortment of little breakaways, none of which takes more than an hour to reach, and deftly compressed them into her small but very useful pocket-sized book. Continue reading “An Hour From Paris”

This excellent insiders bilingual guide to Paris’ most luxurious  and branché hotel bars is packed with hidden treasures and perfect for organizing a special rendezvous when you really want to impress. Over fifty mythic hotels listed ranging from the old world elegance of the Bar V at the Hotel Four Seasons George V to the ultra-contemporary trendy Bar Lounge du Murano near Republique to the English style Bar at the Hotel San Régis with its vintage furniture, fire place and winter garden, this is an opportunity (for only 14 Euros) to see how the other half relaxes. ((Parigramme, Gérard Bonos and Marie-Hélène Delettre; photographs: Sylvain Ageorges)