1066, The Year of the Conquest  •  David Howarth HISTORY •  1981 •  PAPER  • 207 PAGES A concise, lucid history of the Battle of Hastings, rich in anecdotal detail. Howarth relies on the few medieval sources available to reconstruct the events leading up to and the consequences of the famous battle. As much a master storyteller as an adept historian, he provides insight into the court intrigue, personalities and daily life in the Norman period. (GBR115, $14.00)
The Accidental Connoisseur, An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World  •  Lawrence Osborne FOOD •  2005 •  PAPER  • 262 PAGES Oh, what a quest -- and what great fun. Osborne journeys across the world to places like Provence, Tuscany and Sonoma on an animated quest of what makes wine and what makes it good. He stops by New York, San Francisco, Paris, Florence, and Rome to see what people are drinking. He meets plenty of interesting characters along the way (like Robert Mondavi), revealing much about the pleasures of wine (and travel!) We're hoping for a southern hemisphere sequel. (TVL31, $14.00)
Accounting for Taste, The Triumph of French Cuisine  •  Priscilla Parkhurst Ferguson FOOD •  2006 •  PAPER  • 262 PAGES A penetrating look at the evolution of the food of France into "French cuisine," a benchmark for international cooking and shorthand for high culture. Ferguson explores the history and personalities that brought about this revolution in taste. (FRN691, $22.50)
Afloat  •  Guy de Maupassant LITERATURE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 120 PAGES A book of dazzling but treacherously shifting currents, a seemingly simple logbook of a sailing cruise along the French Mediterranean coast that opens up to reveal unexpected depths, as Maupassant merges fact and fiction, dream and documentation in a wholly original style. (FRN754, $14.00)
The Age of Revolution, 1789-1848  •  Eric J. Hobsbawm HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES Renowned historian (and Marxist) Eric J. Hobsbawm begins his four volume history of the modern world with this trenchant account of the transformation of society wrought by the French Revolution and Industrial Revolution in Britian. (GBR418, $15.95)
The Age of the Cathedrals, Art and Society 980-1420  •  Georges Duby HISTORY •  1983 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES The definitive historical study of the building of the great cathedrals. French scholar Duby, writing very accessibly, describes the cathedrals themselves, and the philosophical, religious, and political climate that enabled them to be built. (EUR01, $28.00)
Alias Olympia, A Woman's Search for Manet's Notorious Model and Her Own Desire  •  Eunice Lipton BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1999 •  PAPER  • 192 PAGES Not just another naked woman in a painting (to quote the author), Victorine Meurent figured in nine of Manet's paintings during the years 1862-1874, bewildering contemporary audiances with her frank gaze. Lipton, an art historian with feminist flair, combines biography, art history and memoir in this intriguing detective story. (FRN220, $17.95)
All Rivers Run to the Sea  •  Elie Wiesel BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1996 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel recounts his remarkable life, from his childhood in Romania to the horrors of Auschwitz, his days as a young writer in post-war France and New York, his many pilgrimages to Israel, and his ongoing support Jewish of communities. (EUR153, $16.00)
Alsace et Lorraine Map 516  •  Michelin Travel Publications MAP An up-to-date regional map at the very good scale of 1:200,000 published by Michelin. All of France is covered in 21 regional maps. (FRN158, $11.95)
Angers / Chinon Map  •  IGN 2004 •  MAP A detailed, topographic map showing the Loire Valley from Angiers to Chinon at a scale of 1:100,000. (FRN485, $11.95)
Annecy-Lausanne Map 45  •  IGN MAP An excellently detailed map of the Haute-Savoie at a scale of 1:100,000. (FRN390, $11.95)
Aquitaine Map  •  Michelin MAP A regional map of the Aquitaine region, including Bordeau and Biarritz, at a scale of 1:200,000. All of France is covered in 21 regional maps. (FRN205, $11.95)
Aquitaine Map R15  •  IGN 2003 •  MAP A detailed regional map of the Aquitaine at a scale of 1:250,000. (FRN452, $11.95)
Around the World in Eighty Days, The Extraordinary Journeys  •  Jules Verne LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 247 PAGES A complete, critical edition of Verne's classic novel, in which Phileas Fogg and company romp around the world, rescuing princesses and evading Detective Fix. (FRN288, $9.95)
Art and Architecture in France, 1500-1700  •  Richard Beresford  •  Anthony Blunt ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES A depiction of artistic endeavors that were born in 16th- and 17th-century France. This book portrays architecture of the chateaux of the Loire Valley, Versailles, paintings by Poussin and Claude, as well as the sculpture of Coysevox. Organized chronologically, it provides an overview of the principle works of the period, as well as their creators. (FRN242, $40.00)
Art and Illusion  •  E. H. Gombrich ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 512 PAGES A classic study on the ever-evolving relationship between perception and art. (ART15, $37.95)
Art and Society in the Middle Ages  •  Georges Duby ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A study of the relationship between the production of art and the nature of Medieval society. Noted French historian Georges Duby draws on religion, culture, government, geography, and, of course, artistic pursuits in this portrait of the Middle ages. (EUR85, $30.55)
Artists and their Museums on the Riviera  •  Alan Halpern  •  Barbara F. Freed GUIDEBOOK •  1998 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES For a good part of the 20th century, the French Riviera was home to some of Europe's most celebrated artists. This book covers 28 museums on the Riviera, discussing the works of such masters as Picasso, Renoir, Matisse and Cocteau. Museum hours, telephone numbers and historical information are combined with black-and-white and color photographs of many of the works you will see. (FRN133, $19.95)
Artists in Residence  •  Dana Micucci ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 143 PAGES This attractively illustrated guide features an overview of each French artist's home or studio in or around Paris, travel information, and a good selection of color photographs and reproductions of paintings. The author, a journalist and photographer specializing in the arts, includes among others Monet's famous cottage at Giverny, Van Gogh at home in Auvers, Courbet's 18th-century townhouse in Ornans, and Delacroix's Parisian studio. An excellent guide for day-long excursions outside Paris with a focus on nature and art. (FRN353, $19.95)
As They Were  •  M. F. K. Fisher TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1983 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES This marvelous collection of autobiographical essays by the celebrated, much-adored Fisher covers her life, family, food and adventures from Whittier, California to the south of France. (FRN705, $15.00)
At Home in France  •  Ann Barry TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 247 PAGES Subtitled "Tales of an American and Her House Abroad," this account of life in a small village in southwestern France is shot through with Barry's irony and New York outlook on life. A part-time visitor -- and no homebody despite the title -- she includes her excursions to Rocamadour, Brittany, Provence and other regions in search of fun and food. Barry was a travel editor at the "New Yorker" and "New York Times." (FRN215, $19.00)
Atlas Pocket Traveler France: Travels With a Donkey, Gleanings in France, a Motor-flight Through France  •  Diane Johnson TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 560 PAGES Presented in a handsome three-volume casebound set in a pleasing rose, with an introduction by Diane Johnson, these carefully edited travel classic include Robert Louis Stevenson's Travels with a Donkey, James Fenimore Cooper's Gleanings in France and Edith Wharton's A Motor-flight through France. Two Americans and a Scot, traveling in different periods with different temperaments, the spirited Wharton, melancholy, tormented Stevenson and endlessly curious Fenimore Cooper, each author portrays a very different France. (FRN756, $45.00)
Autonauts of the Cosmoroute  •  Julio Cortazar LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 350 PAGES This novel's comic and surreal adventures along the Paris-Marseilles freeway circa 1982 lend themselves to a fascinating examination of why we travel. (FRN707, $20.00)
The Autumn of the Middle Ages  •  Johan Huizinga HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 467 PAGES A pioneering work of social and cultural history, this classic volume is a richly detailed portrait of life, thought and art in 14th- and 15th-century France and the Netherlands. You may have read this book in your college history class, but this graceful new translation is well worth a re-visit before journeying to these regions. With 45 illustrations complementing Huizinga's focus on the art and architecture. (EUR17, $25.00)
Auvergne Map  •  IGN 2006 •  MAP A map of the Auvergne from Moulins south to Aurillac and Le Puy-en-Velay, at a scale of 1:250,000. (FRN607, $11.95)
Auvergne-Limousin Map 522  •  Michelin MAP A regional map of Auvergne-Limousin, including Limoges and St.-Etienne, a scale of 1:200,000. All of France is covered in 21 regional maps. (FRN62, $11.95)
Avignon Map  •  IGN MAP A French-produced city map of Avignon. (FRN293, $9.95)
Battle of Normandy 1944 Map  •  Michelin Travel Publications MAP A detailed map of Normandy at a scale of 1:200,000 showing the main sites of the summer 1944 battle. This nifty map is an antique-feeling reproduction of a map originally published by Michelin in 1947. The main map is thick with place names, and features special icons denoting battle dates and parachute drops, as well as an inset showing the broader movements of the forces. (FRN264, $12.95)
The Bayeux Tapestry  •  David Wilson ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 234 PAGES The extraordinary Bayeux Tapestry is on display in the town of Bayeux in Normandy. Its colorful embroidery and Latin text tell the story of the Norman victory over England, led by William the Conqueror, at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This full-color reproduction of the Tapestry highlights its lively illustrations, and Wilson gives an outline of this exciting point in Medieval history. (FRN445, $50.00)
The Bayeux Tapestry, The Life Story of a Masterpiece  •  Carola Hicks HISTORY •  2008 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES Art Historian Hicks investigates the production and politics of the Bayeux Tapestry, tracing its survival from medieval times through the present day. This scholarly history includes an explication of the work's details-- its unique stitches, dyes, and strange marginalia. (FRN782, $16.95)
Berlitz French Phrase Book & CD  •  Berlitz Multimedia LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2007 •  AUDIO CD  • 224 PAGES A 224-page phrase book and audio CD, this handy language primer focuses on food, people, fun and the basic phrases for getting around in another language. Compatible with iPod and MPS devices, this bestselling series is geared for travelers. (FRN709, $14.95)
Between Meals, An Appetite for Paris  •  A.J. Liebling BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2004 •  PAPER  • 182 PAGES • FAVORITE Liebling unleashes his stylish prose on his own coming-of-age in Paris in this elegant memoir. A large man with an even larger appetite, he recalls many great meals, fine wines and unforgettable companions. Beware, it will send you straight to the nearest restaurant. (FRN32, $14.00)
Birds of Europe  •  Killian Mullarney  •  Lars Svensson  •  Dan Zetterstrom  •  Peter J. Grant FIELD GUIDE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES • FAVORITE This Princeton Field Guide features 3,500 illustrations by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom. Color plates depict every species -- and sometimes several different variants -- for 722 birds found from the Urals to the Atlantic, Scandinavia to the Middle East. (FG47, $29.95)
Bloom's Literary Guide To Paris  •  Mike Gerrard GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 151 PAGES Combining history, geography and literature, this book focuses on Paris's literary roots, real and imagined, from Hugo's Notre Dame and Hemingway's favorite Parisian Cafes. (FRN690, $14.95)
Blue Guide Burgundy  •  Ian Ousby GUIDEBOOK •  1992 •  PAPER  • 191 PAGES Invaluable for its many site plans and town maps, this compact guide focuses on the art and architecture of the region. With a good general overview and suggested routes. (FRN76, $19.95)
Bordeaux and its Wines  •  Robert Joseph FOOD •  2008 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES Replete with vivid photographs, this guide to the Bordeaux region contains excellent information on wine making and wine buying. (FRN762, $19.95)
Bordeaux Map  •  IGN MAP A detailed map of the city of Bordeaux and surrounding areas at a scale of 1:13,000 with index. Published by IGN, the French National Geographic Institute. (FRN295, $9.95)
Bordeaux Wine Region Map  •  IGN MAP A regional map of Bordeaux, shown at a scale of 1:250,000. (FRN203, $12.95)
The Botanist and the Vintner, How Wine Was Saved for the World  •  Christy Campbell SCIENCE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 314 PAGES In this witty book British journalist Christy Campbell interweaves a dramatic tale of the devastation of vineyards in 1860's France with cultural history and the mad race by scientists (and others) to discover the cause and cure. The French were none too pleased that salvation (as well as the disease) came in the form of American root stock. The mysterious disease, ultimately diagnosed as a tiny phyloxerra aphid, threatened vines in Italy, Portugal, Germany and Switzerland. Eastern Europe and as far afield as Australia. (FRN497, $14.95)
Boundaries, The Making of France and Spain in the Pyrenees  •  Peter Sahlins HISTORY •  1991 •  PAPER  • 351 PAGES A learned, provocative study of the frontier of France and Spain -- and the struggles between national and cultural identities in the Pyrennes. It's a scholarly work focused on Cerdanya, but also an authoritative and informative overview of what happened when Catalon was arbitrarily split between France and Spain in 1659. (SPN154, $26.95)
Bourgogne Map  •  IGN 2007 •  MAP A map of Burgundy at a scale of 1:250,000. (FRN262, $11.95)
The Bretons  •  Patrick Galliou  •  Michael Jones HISTORY •  1996 •  PAPER  • 334 PAGES An engaging, scholarly history of the Bretons, from prehistoric to modern times. Galliou and Jones present a wealth of literary and archaeological evidence in exploring the traditions, culture and identity of the Breton people, tracing their Armorican roots. A volume in the Peoples of Europe series. (FRN239, $29.95)
Brittany Map  •  Michelin Travel Publications MAP A regional map of Brittany by Michelin at the very good scale of 1:200,000. These highly recommended maps include major and minor roadways, GR trails, good topographic details, towns, villages and tourist attractions. All of France is covered in 21 maps. (FRN79, $11.95)
Burgundy and its Wines  •  Nicholas Faith FOOD •  2008 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A marvelously well-informed and illustrated guide to Burgundy as seen though its wine and wine producers. With color photographs of the castles, vineyards, people, villas and landscapes of the region. (FRN761, $19.95)
By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept  •  Paulo Coelho LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 179 PAGES From the wildly popular Brazilian author Paulo Coelho comes this magical tale of a woman who follows a former childhood friend through the French Pyrenees. The friend, a man she has not seen in years, has become a spiritual guide (and some say, a miracle worker), who leads her on a unforgettable romantic journey of discovery and enlightenment. (FRN221, $13.95)
Cadogan Guide Brittany  •  Philippe Barbour GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 507 PAGES A comprehensive, practical guide in the British series with 23 maps and city places, extensive, annotated listings of restaurants and accommodations and a section of color photographs. (FRN383, $19.95)
Cadogan Guide Gascony & the Pyrenees  •  Dana Facaros  •  Michael Pauls GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 364 PAGES This illustrated guidebook to Southwest France includes 6 color maps, historical and cultural background and practical town-by-town travel information. (FRN446, $18.95)
Cadogan Guide Languedoc-Roussillon  •  Dana Facaros  •  Michael Pauls GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Based themselves in southwest France, Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls cover the sweep of the French Mediterranean from the Rhone Valley to the Spanish border, including Nimes, the Corbieres, Carcassone, Perpignan and Toulouse, in opinionated, knowledgeable detail. With a section of color photographs and maps and a good 70-page overview of culture, art and architecture, history and food. (FRN602, $18.95)
Candide  •  Voltaire  •  John Butt LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES The Penguin Classics edition of Voltaire's satirical tale of the adventures of Candide and friends --- and basis for the Bernstein opera. (FRN655, $9.00)
Carmen and Other Stories  •  Prosper Merimee  •  Nicholas Jotcham LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 361 PAGES A sophisticated Parisian, Merimee preferred tales of high drama, banditry, outlaws and outcasts set in exotic locales, preferably in the past. This collection of nine stories includes: Carmen, the source for the opera; Columba, set in Corsica; the Etruscan Vase, one of his Parisian tales; The Storming of the Redoubt, involving Napoleon's 1812 Russian campaign; and Lokis, set in the forests of Medieval Lithuania. (FRN201, $13.95)
Carpentras, Vaison-la-Romain map  •  IGN MAP Topographic map of the region, at a scale of 1:25,000 (FRN593, $14.95)
The Cat Who Walked Across France  •  Katie Banks  •  Georg Hallensleben TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 40 PAGES • FAMILY When his elderly mistress dies, the valiant gray cat of the title makes its way through villages, great cathedrals and other recognizable landmarks to his house by the sea. With beautiful double-page watercolor illustrations by Hallensleben. Aimed for children ages 4-8, it's a book the whole family will enjoy. (FRN531, $16.00)
The Catalans  •  Patrick O'Brian LITERATURE •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 224 PAGES Patrick O'Brian's tale of a family in crisis is set against the sun-drenched backdrop of the Pyrenees town of Saint-Feliu in French Catalonia, where O'Brian made his home. This his long out-of-print second novel. (FRN511, $23.95)
Cathar Castles, Fortresses of the Albigensian Crusade 1209-1300  •  Marcus Cowper  •  Peter Dennis ARCHAEOLOGY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 64 PAGES A slim guide to the medieval walled cities of Languedoc, including Albi, Carcassonne, Beziers and Toulouse. With illustrations, photographs and diagrams. Pope Innocent III unleashed his army on the Cathars of these cities in the 13th century. (FRN623, $16.95)
Cavaillon Digne-Les-Bains Map  •  Institut Geographique National MAP A local "Carte de Promendade" at a scale of 1:100,000, covering hiking trails, bike paths, churches, museums, chateaux and other activities. (FRN693, $11.95)
Cecile, Gates of Gold  •  Mary Casanova LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 191 PAGES • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) Twelve-year-old Cecile is unexpectedly offered the chance to serve as a lady-in-waiting at the Palace of Versailles, but she soon discovers just how difficult the courtly life can actually be. Historical background is nicely incorporated into the narrative, providing insights into life at 18th-century Versailles. (FRN526, $7.95)
Centre Map 518  •  Michelin Travel Publications MAP A colorful map of central France, including the Loire valley, Tours, Orelans and Bourges, at a scale of 1:200,000. (FRN241, $11.95)
Cezanne  •  Mary Tompkins Lewis ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A well illustrated introduction to Cezanne's life and works in the stimulating Art and Ideas series by Phaidon. Lewis highlights the influence of 19th-century French society and Provence in particular, on Cezanne's art. With 193 color and 13 black and white illustrations, a chronology, glossary and suggestions for further reading. Lewis is a professor of art history at Trinity College. (FRN508, $19.95)
Cezanne in Provence  •  Evmarie Schmitt ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 117 PAGES A compact overview of Cezanne with a focus on his images of Provence, featuring color reproductions of 50 oil and watercolor paintings. With commentary introducing his life and works. (FRN507, $9.95)
Cezanne, Landscape into Art  •  Pavel Machotka ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1996 •  HARD COVER  • 172 PAGES In this handsome oversize book, Machotka pairs modern color photographs with reproductions of Cezanne's landscape paintings. It's an intriguing look at the great artist's inspirations and processes. (FRN463, $70.00)
Chagall, The Art of Dreams  •  Daniel Marchesseau ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES As a Russian Jew in Paris, Marc Chagall developed a hybrid painting style, part French modernism, part Cubism, part Surrealism, and infused with the traditions of his religious upbringing. A volume in the "Discoveries" series, this is a slim introduction to the man and his work, richly illustrated throughout with color reproductions. (FRN268, $12.95)
Chamonix to Zermatt, The Walker's Haute Route  •  Kev Reynolds GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 187 PAGES A comprehensive, practical guide to the classic Haute Route (with suggested alternatives). Apart from covering each segment of the long-distance walk, the book features a 30-page introduction to the region and good information on preparation. With photographs and sketch maps. The author, Kev Reynolds, has written a series of walking guides in Switzerland and the Alps published by Cicerone Press in Great Britain. (ALP21, $19.95)
Chamonix, Mont Blanc Massif (East)  •  IGN MAP This fabulously detailed topographic map (scale 1:25,000) shows the eastern portion of the Mont Blanc group. In combination with the same publisher's map of the western part of the range (Item FRN315), it's the best map for hikers doing the Mont Blanc circuit. (FRN314, $16.95)
Champagne-Ardennes Map 515  •  Michelin Travel Publications MAP A regional map at 1:200,000 scale, with topographic details, city plans and attractions. (FRN159, $11.95)
Charming Small Hotel Guides, France  •  Fiona Duncan  •  Leonie Glass GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A full page with a color photograph is dedicated to each entry in this guide focused on hotels with 20 bedrooms or less. (FRN625, $19.95)
Chasing Matisse, A Year in France Living My Dream  •  James Morgan TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2005 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES Morgan, an editor and amateur painter in his middle years and ready for a change, decamps with his wife for places that inspired Matissse: Paris, Picardy, Collioure, Nice and Morocco. This warmly personal account features Morgan's musings, some unfortunate comparisons of his own work to the great impressionist painter, and nice description. (MED88, $25.00)
Chocolat  •  Joanne Harris LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 306 PAGES This charming novel set in the Loire Valley pits provincial morals against pleasure. An unconventional confectioner transforms a sleepy town when she opens a chocolate boutique during Lent. It was made into a movie staring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. (FRN484, $14.00)
The Chronicle of Impressionism  •  Bernard Denvir ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES The personal lives of artists such as Monet and Manet are captured within the historical context of the Impressionism movement in this illustrated history. (FRN230, $29.95)
Citizen Soldiers  •  Stephen Ambrose HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 528 PAGES Told through the perspectives of Allied soldiers on the front lines, this is Ambrose's account of the battles fought in the year between D-Day and the German surrender. Visceral and well researched, it's subtitled "The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany, June 7, 1944 to May 7, 1945." (WAR19, $18.00)
Citizens, A Chronicle of the French Revolution  •  Simon Schama HISTORY •  1990 •  PAPER  • 948 PAGES A detailed account of the French Revolution from the eminent historian Simon Schama. With penetrating insight, this impressive work chronicles the events, the rhetoric and the personalities of this turbulent period in French history. Recognized as one of the best books of the decade by Time magazine. (FRN115, $29.95)
Clara's Grand Tour, Travels With a Rhinoceros in Eighteenth-century Europe  •  Glynis Ridley HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES The entertaining history of a most unusual eighteenth-century European celebrity. Clara the Indian rhinoceros was brought to Europe in 1741 by the Dutch sea captain Douwemout Van der Meer, and toured for seventeen years, to the delight of heads of state such as Louis XV and Frederick the Great. A marvelous and unique look at the introduction of Eastern wildlife into the Western world. (FRN536, $12.00)
Claude Monet  •  William Seitz ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1983 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES A short survey of Monet's greatest works, with analysis of individual paintings and 48 color plates. (FRN249, $24.95)
Claude Monet, The Color of Time  •  Virginia Spate ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES A critically lauded analysis of Monet and his art. Professor Virginia Spate provides in-depth interpretations of individual works, taking into account technique, the evolution of themes and styles, historical and biographical information, exhibition, reception, and letters written by Monet, himself. What results is an impeccably researched, convincing and beautifully illustrated overview of a much more complex artist than previously thought. (FRN311, $39.95)
Claude Monet: Life and Art  •  Paul Hayes Tucker ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1995 •  HARD COVER  • 260 PAGES A generously illustrated introduction to the life and art of Claude Monet. Tucker, a professor of art at the University of Massachusetts, writes widely on Monet and has curated two exhibitions on the artist. With 50 black-and-white and 140 color illustrations. (FRN552, $55.00)
Claudine's House  •  Colette  •  Doris Lessing LITERATURE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 166 PAGES A marvelous new translation of Colette's warm, sensual account of growing up under her mother's watchful care in the south of France. Written 20 years after her wildly popular Claudine novels. (FRN570, $15.95)
The Club Dumas  •  Arturo Perez-Reverte  •  Sonia Soto MYSTERY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES In this second Perez-Reverte thriller, book detective Lucas Corso helps uncover the secret behind a hanged book-lover and a fragment from the original "The Three Musketeers." Black magic, adventure, and murderers follow him as he travels between Madrid, Toledo and Paris to solve the puzzling mystery. (FRN577, $14.00)
Coming Down the Seine  •  Robert Gibbings TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES A classic account, in words and engravings, of Gibbing's 400-mile journey down the Seine from its source near Dijon across France to Le Havre. He includes towns and cities along the river and the art and arists who have been inspired by the Seine. Originally published in 1953. With 50 engravings by the author, who had a fondness for rivers. (FRN443, $15.00)
Companion Guide Burgundy  •  Robert Speaight  •  Francis Pagan GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 385 PAGES A personable district-by-district guide to Burgundy, this intelligent (and very British) book interweaves maps, some illustrations and plenty of opinionated detail regarding local geography, history and culture. Revised and updated by Francis Pagan. (FRN73, $34.95)
Companion Guide Gascony and Dordogne  •  Richard Barber GUIDEBOOK •  2002 •  PAPER  • 348 PAGES A comprehensive, serious-minded guide to the architecture, art and culture of Gascony and Dordogne, combining descriptions of each attraction with personal anecdote. With black-and-white photos and maps throughout. (FRN06, $34.95)
The Complete Claudine  •  Colette LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 560 PAGES A collection of four short novels about coming of age as a woman in turn-of-the-century France. Colette beautifully evokes period and place in this vivid portrait of Victorian Paris. The first novel, Claudine at School, launched the series -- and Colette's writing career. The story continues with Claudine in Paris, Claudine Married, and Claudine and Annie. (FRN125, $20.00)
The Complete Jewish Guide to France  •  Toni Kamins GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  PAPER  • 238 PAGES A well research compact travel guide with a short overview of Jewish history and plenty of practical travel information on where to go and what to do. Organized geographically, the book includes synagogues, cemeteries, museums and other sites of Jewish interest (FRN349, $17.95)
The Complete Letters of Vincent Van Gogh  •  Vincent Van Gogh BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 1864 PAGES A handsome three volume set containing all the available letters written by Vincent Van Gogh. Mostly addressed to his brother Theo, these are an illuminating glimpse into the life of an artist and a heart-breaking account of mental illness. A replica of the set published in the 1950s by the New York Graphic Society, this is the most comprehensive collection available, illustrated with reproductions of all the original drawings that appeared in the letters. It is a "must-have" for all Van Gogh enthusiasts. (NTH35, $100.00)
A Concise History of France  •  Roger Price HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 380 PAGES A compact survey of French history, events and personalities from medieval times to the early 1990s in the series by Cambridge University Press. (FRN269, $25.99)
Consider the Oyster  •  M. F. K. Fisher FOOD •  1988 •  PAPER  • 76 PAGES The inestimable Fisher's ruminations on the oyster, a delightful essay full of recipes and bits of trivia. This is her second (1941) of many books. In it, Fisher already diplays her flair for storytelling, autobiography and wit. (GEN273, $11.00)
The Contested Parterre, Public Theater and French Political Culture, 1680-1791  •  Jeffrey S. Ravel HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES MIT professor Ravel's scholarly account of the relationship between rowdy theatre audiences and the political culture of eighteenth century France. (FRN745, $25.95)
The Cook and the Gardener, A Year of Recipes and Writings from the French Countryside  •  Amanda Hesser FOOD •  1999 •  HARD COVER  • 632 PAGES An American cook -- of all things -- at Chateau de Fey in Burgundy, the author records her recipes and growing fondness for Monsieur Milbert, the very French gardener, in this narrative cookbook. It includes 250 month-by-month recipes, which draw heavily on M. Milbert's garden, and some fine observations on local people and places. The chateau is owned by teacher and author Anne Willan. (FRN85, $32.50)
The Cornerstone, A Novel  •  Zoe Oldenbourg  •  Edward Hyams LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 482 PAGES An engrossing historical novel, set during the 13th-century Albigensian crusade in France. The author vividly evokes the turbulent and often violent atmosphere of the Middle Ages, and the intensity of the ongoing religious warfare. (EUR171, $14.95)
Corsica Map  •  IGN 2001 •  MAP A detailed map of the island of Corsica at a scale of 1:250,000. (MED57, $11.95)
Cote D'or, A Celebration of the Great Wines of Burgundy  •  Clive Coates FOOD •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 1007 PAGES An in-depth guide to the region's wines. Coates introduces every major grower and his wines, analyzes climatological effects, and profiles the top wines by year, climate, and region. (FRN645, $65.00)
The Count of Monte Cristo  •  Alexandre Dumas  •  David Coward LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 1168 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS The classic adventures of the wrongly imprisoned French sailor Edmond Dantes. Accused of abetting the exiled Napoleon, Dantes must vindicate himself -- but first he must escape an impenetrable island fortress. What ensues is an absorbing tale of hidden treasure, guile and revenge. (FRN122, $13.95)
Courbet  •  Linda Nochlin ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2007 •  PAPER  • 224 PAGES Leading Art Historian Linda Nochlin scrutinizes the entirety of Courbet's oeuvre in this collection, which spans forty years worth of her scholarship. (ART82, $29.95)
Courbet's Realism  •  Michael Fried ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1992 •  PAPER  • 396 PAGES Fried, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, places Courbet's work in a tradition of the French antitheatrical tradtion. With many reproductions, most in black and white. (ART50, $47.00)
Cultural Misunderstandings, The French-American Experience  •  Raymonde Carroll CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1990 •  PAPER  • 162 PAGES An entertaining examination, by a Frenchwoman and anthropologist married to an American, of the possibility for cross-cultural misunderstanding on everything from telephones and money to food and friendship. (FRN475, $14.00)
Culture Smart! France, A Quick Guide to Customs And Etiquette  •  Barry Tomalin GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 168 PAGES A concise, no-nonsense guide to local customs, etiquette and culture with a short overview of the land and people along with practical travel advice. (FRN704, $9.95)
Cycle Touring In France  •  Stephen Fox GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER A compact, practical guide to eight week and two-week bicycle tours, including routes through Brittany, Picardy, Alsace, Auvergne/Languedoc, Provence, Dordogne/Lot, theAlps and Pyrenees. (FRN686, $19.95)
Cycling the River Loire, The Way of St Martin  •  John Higginson GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A practical guide to cycling the country lanes and byways along the Loire. (FRN515, $18.95)
D-Day June 6, 1944, The Climactic Battle of World War II  •  Stephen Ambrose HISTORY •  1995 •  PAPER  • 655 PAGES Written by the best-selling historian Stephen Ambrose, this well researched book draws together interviews and government documents to tell the gripping tale of June 6, 1944. This comprehensive account of D-Day contains 32 pages of photos and eight maps. (FRN40, $18.00)
The D-Day Landing Beaches, The Guide  •  Georges Bernage GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES Each landing site is described with information on troop locations, fortifications, and terrain. With over 200 photographs, maps and charts. (FRN646, $19.95)
Da Vinci Code  •  Dan Brown MYSTERY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES This runaway bestseller, impressive for its authentic historic setting, draws the reader in with its twists, hidden messages, and puzzles. The plot revolves around the murder of the curator at the Louvre. (FRN422, $14.95)
David Golder, the Ball, Snow in Autumn, the Courilof Affair  •  Irene Nemirovsky LITERATURE •  2008 •  HARD COVER  • 363 PAGES Born in Kiev to a prosperous Jewish family and exiled to France, Nemirovsky published David Golder, the first of the four exquisite novels collected in this Everyman's Library edition, when she was just 26. In all of them she captures the contradictions of growing up an exile and a Jew in 1920s France. Newly translated by Sandra Smith, these masterful tales follow the success of Nemerovsky's Suite Francaise. (FRN746, $25.00)
A Day in the Country and Other Stories  •  Guy de Maupassant LITERATURE •  1990 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS A collection of 28 short stories, set mostly in de Maupassant's native Normandy. (FRN307, $10.95)
The Days of the French Revolution  •  Christopher Hibbert HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES An accessible and informative history of the French Revolution, this book is a fantastic introduction to a pivotal historical period, aimed at the general reader. Popular historian Christopher Hibbert covers the full scope of the revolution, concentrating on many of the major figures. With maps, a chronology and illustrations. (FRN153, $16.00)
The Debacle  •  Emile Zola LITERATURE •  1973 •  PAPER  • 509 PAGES Part of the "Penguin Classics" series, this is Zola's novel of the Franco-Prussian War and the Commune, as seen through the stories of common soldiers. Strong on historical detail, it remains one of the most famous and powerful pieces on these devastating conflicts. (FRN251, $15.00)
Degas  •  Keith Roberts ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1993 •  PAPER  • 128 PAGES A quick illustrated survey of Degas' work in "The Colour Library" series published by Phaidon. (ART26, $9.95)
Degas and the Dance  •  Jill Devonyar  •  Richard Kendall ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 304 PAGES A gorgeous exhibition catalog and the most comprehensive collection of Degas' portraits of dancers. Obviously, the paintings are all here, but so too are the pastels, drawings and sculptures. (ART27, $49.95)
Degas, Impressions of a Great Master  •  Gerhard Gruitrooy ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES An attractive portfolio of Degas' best works. (ART25, $16.98)
Dirty Snow  •  Georges Simenon LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 203 PAGES Set in an occupied town in an unnamed country during an unnamed war (clearly World War II), Simenon's masterpiece is the story of struggling family, just trying to survive the occupation. Well, mom runs a whorehouse, and her son Frank Friedmaier is a small time crook. The book follows young Frank on a criminal escapade leading to an unfortunate downward spiral, and apparently under the watchful eyes of the occupying authorities. Haunting, and brilliant. (FRN683, $14.00)
Discovering Wine Country, Burgundy  •  Patrick Matthews GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES Both a guide to wine and to wine country, this handy guide, featuring 100 color photographs and 18 maps, includes an overview of the wines of Burgundy, suggested wine tours, traveler's tips and recommended producers. Patrick Matthews, general editor of the series, has a home in Burgundy. (FRN499, $19.95)
Discovering Wine Country, South of France  •  Jonathan Healey GUIDEBOOK •  2005 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES Subtitled How to Find Great Wines Off the Beaten Track, this handy guide, featuring 100 color photographs and 12 maps, includes an overview of the wines of southern France, suggested wine tours, traveler's tips and recommended producers. Jonathan Healey is the author of Wines of Roussillon, where he now lives and works. (FRN500, $19.95)
The Doughboys, America and the First World War  •  Gary Mead HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 494 PAGES A history of World War I through the eyes of the American veterans who fought in its trenches. In presenting their accounts Mead argues the Doughboys, the three million American volunteers of the American Expeditionary Force, played a crucial role in the Allied victory. While this history focuses primarily on first hand accounts of the men on the front line, Mead also provides a political and social analysis of the overall American war contribution. (WAR75, $19.95)
The Dream of Scipio  •  Iain Pears MYSTERY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES This edifying, complex historical novel interweaves three stories set in the lower Rhone Valley of Provence during thee dark periods: the fall of Roman civilization; the coming of the plague; and the fall of France to the Nazis. By the author of An Instance of the Fingerpost. (FRN470, $15.00)
The Dreyfus Affair, 'J'accuse' and Other Writings  •  Eleanor Levieux  •  Alain Pages  •  Emile Zola LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 248 PAGES A scholarly edition of "J'accuse" -- Zola's humanist denunciation of the arrest of Alfred Dreyfus -- as well as letters, articles and documents pertaining to the controversy and to Zola's own subsequent arrest for sedition. In 1894 a Jewish captain in the French army, falsely accused of espionage, was deported to Devil's Island. His trial ignited an enormous popular debate, forever after known as "The Dreyfus Affair", as some French aired their anti-Semitic grievances while others (Emile Zola among them) excoriated their xenophobic countrymen. (FRN289, $22.00)
Edouard Manet  •  Pierre Courthion ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1984 •  HARD COVER  • 128 PAGES Featuring 40 color plates and 115 illustrations, this book is a good survey of the life and work of Manet. (FRN378, $24.95)
Edouard Manet, Rebel in a Frock Coat  •  Beth Archer Brombert BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  PAPER  • 506 PAGES Brombert delves into a study of Manet's personal life and social mileu in order to examine the ambiguities surrounding his art and the scandal it provoked in the 19th century art world. This work weighs in on the debate concerning whether Manet's intended to revolutionize art, conceding the artist more credit for his intellectualism and imagination than many earlier studies of his life. She also examines his relationship with women and provides readings of his important works. Illustrated with 70 halftones. (FRN377, $19.95)
Eleanor of Aquitaine, A Life  •  Alison Weir BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2001 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES An extremely well-researched, enjoyable biography of the woman who was both queen of France (married to Louis VII) and queen of England (married to Henry II). Eleanor became a political and artistic powerbroker in an age when most women were seen but not heard. (FRN287, $17.00)
The Emergence of Monasticism: From the Desert Fathers to the Early Middle Ages  •  Marilyn Dunn HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES This book by University of Glasgow lecturer Marilyn Dunn traces the development of monasticism through history from its earliest roots. (EUR196, $45.95)
Encore Provence  •  Peter Mayle TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 226 PAGES Peter Mayle returns to Provence to detail the life of the village that the tourist never sees. Encore Provence combines personal reflections with a knowledgeable travel advise, providing yet another alluring portrait of southern France. (FRN128, $13.95)
The End of the Old Order, Napoleon and Europe, 1801-1805  •  Frederick W. Kagan HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 808 PAGES Kagan re-examines the Napoleonic era from the balanced perpsective of all of the key players, offering a fascinating new study that draws on previously untapped archival documents. This is the first book in a 4-volume series. (EUR280, $27.50)
An Englishman A La Campagne, Life in Deepest France  •  Michael Sadler TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 182 PAGES A humourous, quirky narrative of Englishman Michael Sadler making do in rural France, filled with anecdotes that convey the charm of the French countryside and the unavoidable mishaps that accompany Sandler's immersion in local life. (FRN569, $12.95)
The Enormous Room  •  George James Firmage  •  E. E. Cummings LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 278 PAGES A fictional account of the poet's four-month confinement in France during World War I. A volunteer with a Red Cross ambulance unit on the western front, Cummings and a friend were (falsely) imprisoned in a French camp at La Ferte-Mace in Normandy for bad behavior. His witty and absorbing account of the experience is also the first of his many published challenges to authority. First published in 1922, this Liveright edition of the original manuscript edited George James Firmage, includes Cumming's drawings and material excised from the first edition. (WAR33, $14.95)
Essays  •  Michel de Montaigne LITERATURE •  1993 •  PAPER Selected essays by the great philosopher. (FRN134, $14.00)
The Essence of Style, How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, And Glamour  •  Joan E. Dejean CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2006 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES French historian DeJean's premise is simple: largely because of one obsessive spendthrift, Louis XIV, France, in the late 17th century, became the arbiter of chic, a position from which it has never since faltered. (FRN758, $15.00)
The Essential Touring Cyclist, A Complete Course for the Bicycle Traveler  •  Richard A. Lovett REFERENCE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A great introduction for the beginner biker and a useful refresher for experienced cyclists. Includes hints for planning your tour, safe riding techniques and practical advice about traveling with your bike, be it overseas or across America. (BCY01, $16.95)
Eye-Deep in Hell, Trench Warfare in World War I  •  John Ellis HISTORY •  1989 •  PAPER  • 215 PAGES The gritty reality of the Western Front. This history of daily life in the trenches is interspersed with first hand accounts. The title is drawn from an Ezra Pound poem memorializing the soldiers of WWI. (WAR81, $19.95)
Eyewitness Guide Brittany  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  FLEXI-BOUND  • 288 PAGES Gorgeous, well illustrated and filled with excellent maps, this compact book is a thorough overview of Brittany, its history, traditions, cultures and sights. With hundreds of color photographs and illustrations. (FRN401, $23.00)
Eyewitness Guide Loire Valley  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES Visually rich, comprehensive, and practical, this guidebook is an excellent introduction to the history, culture and attractions of the Loire Valley. Highly recommended. (FRN43, $23.00)
Eyewitness Guide Paris  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES Gorgeous, well illustrated and filled with excellent maps, this compact book is a thorough overview of the City of Light, its history, traditions, cultures and sights. Featuring well chosen literary excerpts and a detailed synopsis of the city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry. (FRN02, $25.00)
Eyewitness Guide Provence & the Cote D'Azur  •  Roger Williams GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES This superb guide, another entry in the excellent Eyewitness series, features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a district-by-district synopsis of attractions in both Provence and the Riviera. Handsome, comprehensive and convenient, this is the guide to carry. (FRN18, $23.00)
Eyewitness Handbooks, Mushrooms  •  Gary Lincoff  •  Thomas Laessoe NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A comprehensive guide to mushrooms around the world featuring 2300 color photographs. The book depicts 500 species of mushroom, plus information about fruiting season, edibility, and natural habitat. (FG54, $18.95)
Eyewitness Paris Pocket Map & Guide  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 80 PAGES This fantastic guide to Paris features color photography, easy-to-use foldout maps and top attractions. Convenient and up-to-date with an unbeatable price, this is the guide to carry. (FRN635, $6.99)
Eyewitness Phrase Book, French  •  Eyewitness Guides LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS •  2003 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A pocket phrasebook and mini-dictionary to getting around in French, mai oui. Organized thematically (FRN263, $7.00)
Eyewitness Real City Paris  •  Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES With up-to-date information on what's hot in Paris, this chic guide lists the trendiest local spots to eat, shop, party and relax. Supported by a website so you'll always be on the inside track. (FRN636, $15.00)
Families of the Vine, Seasons Among the Winemakers of Southwest France  •  Michael S. Sanders FOOD •  2006 •  PAPER  • 265 PAGES Ever heard of the stylish, savory wines of Clos Triguedina -- or even of the Auxerrois grape (AKA Malbec) or of the ravages of phylloxera? Never mind. You'll still delight at Michael Sanders' absorbing account of the wine and winemakers of Cahors in Southwest France, where some families have held the same vineyards for generations. The book is a sequel of sorts to his warmly observed account of a year in the kitchen of La Recreation, also in the Lot (From Here, You Can't See Paris, FRN478, $13.95). Reservations recommended. (FRN479, $13.95)
The Feasting Season  •  Nancy Coons LITERATURE •  2007 •  PAPER Living in the Lorraine region of France with her two small children and a neglectful husband, American travel writer Meg Parker receives the assignment of a lifetime when she is asked to write a guidebook on French history, but her joy is tempered when she discovers that she must deal with Jean-Jacques, the scruffy, bossy photographer who has also been assigned to the project. (FRN667, $13.95)
First Great Triumph, How Five Americans Made Their Country a World Power  •  Warren Zimmermann HISTORY •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 576 PAGES A history of John Hay, Captain Alfred T. Mahan, Elihu Root, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt and the turn-of-the-century American expansionist policy that they perpetrated. Zimmermann is a former ambassador and veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service. (WAR84, $30.00)
The Five-Forty-Five to Cannes  •  Tess Uriza Holthe LITERATURE •  2008 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES Set against a backdrop of the dazzling French Riviera and Northern Italy, these compelling tales, linked by the 5:45 train to Cannes, capture the drama of the lives of a young Italian, troubled American heir, three widows and other characters. (FRN766, $13.00)
Floating Through France, Life Between Locks on the Canal Du Midi  •  Barb Euser TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 200 PAGES A lovely collection, evoking the dreamy French countryside along the banks of the Canal du Midi, Europe's oldest functioning canal. The essays and poems are the reflections of a group of writers who slipped along the canal together in two old boats in the summer of 2005. (FRN572, $14.95)
Fodor's Exploring France  •  Adam Ruck GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES With its many photographs, great introductory chapters and practical travel information, this book is an excellent overview of Italy and its attractions for visitors. Featuring separate sections on suggested places to visit, recommended walks, practical information, descriptions of restaurants and hotels, ratings of sights, and a chronology of historic events. (FRN742, $22.00)
Fodor's Exploring Provence  •  Nick Hanna GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES With its many photographs, great introductory chapters and practical travel information, this book is an excellent overview of Italy and its attractions for visitors. Featuring separate sections on suggested places to visit, recommended walks, practical information, descriptions of restaurants and hotels, ratings of sights, and a chronology of historic events. (FRN743, $22.00)
Fodor's France  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 864 PAGES An excellent all-around guidebook to sightseeing, dining and accommodations throughout France. With dozens of local maps, suggested itineraries -- and a pull-out, full-color Rand McNalley map. Updated annually, Fodor's guides are getting better all the time. (FRN180, $23.95)
Fodor's Paris  •  Rach Klein GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A practical, popular guide featuring full color photos, maps and plenty of information on hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities. (FRN716, $18.95)
Fodor's See It France  •  Fodors GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES An inaugural volume in this new line of guides by Fodor's this book is notable for its especially vibrant presentation of the country. Each page displays full-color photos accompanied by much useful information on how to eat, sleep, shop, and sightsee in France. (FRN459, $24.95)
Food, A Culinary History from Antiquity to the Present  •  Jean Louis Flandrin  •  Massimo Montanari  •  Albert Sonnenfeld FOOD •  2000 •  PAPER  • 624 PAGES First published in French, this is a social and cultural history of food and eating customs, organized chronologically from prehistoric times to today. (CUL04, $25.00)
France and the French, A Modern History  •  Rod Kedward CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2007 •  PAPER  • 736 PAGES A sweeping, in-depth history of France from 1900 to the present day, from the disasterous world wars to the crumbling of the empire to France's modern place in the European Union. (FRN573, $24.95)
France Atlas  •  Michelin Travel Publications 2007 •  MAP  • 451 PAGES Published annually, this up-to-date, detailed spiral-bound atlas, with distances, detailed index and bright, clear cartography, is an authoritative reference and planning guide for touring France. With a section of city plans. (FRN663, $25.00)
France Bicycling Map  •  Institut Geographique National MAP This map shows long distance bicycling routes and trails thoughout France at a scale of 1:1,000,000. (FRN685, $11.95)
France Centre Map  •  IGN 2003 •  MAP A detailed regional map of Central France by the French Institut Geographique National at a scale of 1:250,000. With an street plan of central Orleans. (FRN448, $11.95)
France du Sud Map  •  Hallwag 2007 •  MAP A handy, folded map of southern France at a scale of 1:600,000. (FRN750, $12.95)
France on the Brink, A Great Civilization Faces the New Century  •  Jonathan Fenby CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1999 •  PAPER  • 449 PAGES A timely cultural portrait by a British journalist, Francophile and, since 1995, editor of Hong Kong's South China Morning Post. It's a lively account, interweaving current events, travel, commentary history and culture. A practiced journalist with a 40-year history in France, Fenby is a terrific guide to the Gallic character. Apart from his obvious wit and love of life, Fenby's addiitonal credentials include a French wife -- and a French Order of Merit. (FRN175, $16.95)
France, Long Distance Footpaths Map Grande Randonnee  •  IGN MAP A map of all of France, highlighting the Grande Randonnee, shown at a 1:1,000,000 scale. Each of the long distance walking paths are numbered and indicated in red. It's an excellent planning guide to the network of almost 60,000 kilometers of paths throughout France. (FRN347, $11.95)
Franche-Comte Map  •  Michelin Travel Publications A detailed map of Franche-Comte, centered on Besancon, at a scale of 1:275,000. (FRN505, $11.95)
The French Century  •  Brian Moynahan HISTORY •  2007 •  HARD COVER  • 480 PAGES An illustrated history of modern France, one in a series of well-edited documentary photoalbums illuminating the events, people and drama of a modern nation. (FRN689, $39.95)
French Cheeses  •  Joel Robuchon FOOD •  2000 •  PAPER  • 235 PAGES Cheese gets the distinctively visual "Eyewitness" treatment in this guide to 350 French varieties, which features 700 color photographs and concise text by a variety of contributors on topics including production, aroma and menu-building. With a foreword by Joel Robuchon. (FRN321, $20.00)
The French Encounter with Africans: W