Ina Caro (Road from the Past) invites readers to join her on 25 one-day trips by train from Paris, transporting us back through 700 years of French history. Whether taking us to Orleans to evoke the miraculous visions of Joan of Arc, to Versailles to experience the flamboyant achievements of Louis XIV, or to the Place de la Concorde to witness the beheading of Marie Antoinette, Caro animates history with her lush descriptions of architectural splendors and tales of court intrigue. Organizing her destinations chronologically from 12th-century Saint-Denis to the 19th-century Restoration at Chantilly, Caro appeals not only to casual travelers aboard the Metro or the TGV but also to anyone interested in Franch history.  (FRN953, $17.95)