{"product_id":"france-9781473663848","title":"France","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA witty history of 2000 years of French history and the last book from legendary popular historian John Julius Norwich\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlways a warm, welcoming guide, John Julius Norwich takes us on a historical tour of France from its earliest days to the twenty-first century . . . A highly entertaining introduction to a fascinating nation * History Revealed Magazine *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNorwich romps through French history with lots of good stories: philandering kings, dread plagues and legendary dinners\u003c\/b\u003e * The Times *\u003cbr\u003eFor his final book, the late Norwich tackled the dauntingly vast subject of two millennia of French history with \u003cb\u003eadmirable lightness and urbanity\u003c\/b\u003e. There is the odd whiff, probably deliberate, of \u003ci\u003e1066 and All\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eThat \u003c\/i\u003e- \"The Capetians had steadily built up France, transforming it from a Carolingian custard into a nation\" - and \u003cb\u003ehis comic footnotes deserve a review of their own\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e * The Daily Telegraph, Summer Reads *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA richly illuminating work\u003c\/b\u003e . . . Norwich was a wonderful military historian * Times Literary Supplement *\u003cbr\u003eAlmost the best thing in it is the author's short epilogue, 'The Essence of France', in which he listed what he loved most about that enchanting, if occasionally exasperating, country - its architecture, its painting and its music. These were among Norwich's greatest passions, which he invariably conveyed with \u003cb\u003eauthority, charm and wit\u003c\/b\u003e -- Desmond Seward * History Today *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA story told with charm and obvious enthusiasm for the subject\u003c\/b\u003e ... My children constantly ask why the GCSE syllabus cannot be an introduction to British history rather than a somewhat esoteric dive into Weimar, Nazi Germany and Russia. What they want is a comprehensive, approachable and enjoyable survey of the story of our islands - and that is exactly what John Julius Norwich has written about France . . . \u003cb\u003eThe attraction of this commendable short history is that it's as entertaining as it is informative, written with fluency, wit and a nicely understated humour: a real pleasure-almost compelling-to read\u003c\/b\u003e * Country Life *\u003cbr\u003eNorwich treats history \u003cb\u003elike a friendly fireside chat\u003c\/b\u003e * Sunday Independent *\u003cbr\u003eThe tone of \u003ci\u003eFrance \u003c\/i\u003eis\u003cb\u003e avuncular, worldly and witty\u003c\/b\u003e; it is like having dinner with an urbane, well-read uncle. * Country \u0026amp; Town House *\u003cbr\u003eThere is certainly a need for a concise history of France in English and, in many ways, \u003cb\u003eJohn Julius Norwich is the ideal man to write it\u003c\/b\u003e . . . Norwich has a love for France that stretches back to his childhood and it is evident throughout \u003cb\u003ethis readable, entertaining book\u003c\/b\u003e. * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis warm, delightful short history of France, aimed convivially at the general reader, is his love letter to the country he knew so well\u003c\/b\u003e * The Spectator *\u003cbr\u003eJohn Julius Norwich's political history of France, which begins with Vercingetorix and ends with Charles de Gaulle in 1945, \u003cb\u003einvites us to admire the giants of the past and even vicariously to share in their triumphs\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003erichly illuminating\u003c\/b\u003e * Times Literary Supplement *\u003cbr\u003eWritten with zest . . . The sadly late JJN shines through as his best friendly donnish self - an avuncular tutor who invites you in for a glass as he expounds on 2000 years of French history, from the Gauls through Charlemagne and Julius Caesar to de Gaulle. With a deft but gentle touch, he goes through sex, death and tennis, and it either complements a summer holiday to France or gives you a sudden desire to visit * OX Magazine *","brand":"John Murray Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48739533685079,"sku":"9781473663848","price":12.34,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781473663848.jpg?v=1720052518","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/france-9781473663848","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}