Best of
France

2012

The Lavender Garden


Lucinda Riley - 2012
    With the property comes a mountain of debt—and almost as many questions . . .Paris, 1944: A bright, young British office clerk, Constance Carruthers, is sent undercover to Paris to be part of Churchill’s Special Operations Executive during the climax of the Nazi occupation. Separated from her contacts in the Resistance, she soon stumbles into the heart of a prominent family who regularly entertain elite members of the German military even as they plot to liberate France. But in a city rife with collaborators and rebels, Constance’s most difficult decision may be determining whom to trust with her heart.As Emilie discovers what really happened to her family during the war and finds a connection to Constance much closer than she suspects, the château itself may provide the clues that unlock the mysteries of her past, present, and future. Here is a dazzling novel of intrigue and passion from one of the world’s most beloved storytellers.Note to readers: In the UK, this book is published under the title The Light Behind the Window.

The Lavender Keeper


Fiona McIntosh - 2012
    When the Second World War breaks out he joins the French Resistance, leaving behind his family's fortune, their home overrun by soldiers, their lavender fields in disarray.Lisette Forestier is on a mission of her own: to work her way into the heart of a senior German officer – and to bring down the Reich in any way she can. What Luc and Lisette hadn't counted on was meeting each other.When they come together at the height of the Paris occupation, German traitors are plotting to change the course of history. But who, if anyone, can be trusted? As Luc and Lisette's emotions threaten to betray them, their love may prove the greatest risk of all.From the fields of Provence to the streets of wartime Paris, The Lavender Keeper is an extraordinary, moving story of action and adventure, heartbreak and passion, devotion and treachery from an internationally bestselling author.

Suite for Barbara Loden


Nathalie Léger - 2012
    Loden’s 1970 film Wanda is a masterpiece of early cinema vérité, an anti-Bonnie-and-Clyde road movie about a young woman, adrift in rust-belt Pennsylvania in the early 1960s, who embarks on a crime spree with a small-time crook.How to paint a life, describe a personality? Inspired by the film, a researcher seeks to piece together a portrait of its creator. In her soul-searching homage to the former pin-up girl famously married to Hollywood giant Elia Kazan, the biographer’s evocative powers are put to the test. New insights into Loden’s sketchy biography remain scarce and the words of Marguerite Duras, Georges Perec, Jean-Luc Godard, Sylvia Plath, Kate Chopin, Herman Melville, Samuel Beckett and W.G. Sebald come to the narrator’s rescue. As remembered scenes from Wanda alternate with the droll journal of a flailing research project, personal memories surface, and with them, uncomfortable insights into the inner life of a singular woman who is also, somehow, every woman.

Invisible Love


Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt - 2012
    His subject in these stories rarely changes: What is happiness and how to we attain it?   In this latest collection, two young lovers secretly love the child they will never be able to have; an esteemed physician and survivor of the Nazi concentration camps finds inner peace thanks to the love of a faithful dog; a man loves his wife through the memories of her first husband; and a mother rediscovers love for her child when someone tries to take that child from her. And finally, Séverine and Benjamin understand that they have lost the love of their lives when they see themselves through the eyes of a young terminally ill girl.   Love is not easy, and not always easy to find; at times, it is obliged to circumvent social norms, and thus transform them; it must be desired, sought, defended. We cannot know what life has in store for us, but we do know that whatever it is, it will only be meaningful if borne on the wings of love. Schmitt’s sublime stories remind us how true this is.

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting


Pamela Druckerman - 2012
    They ate braised leeks. They played by themselves while their parents sipped coffee. And yet French kids were still boisterous, curious, and creative. Why? How?            With a notebook stashed in her diaper bag, Druckerman set out to investigate—and wound up sparking a national debate on parenting. Researched over three years and written in her warm, funny voice, Bringing Up Bébé is deeply wise, charmingly told, and destined to become a classic resource for American parents.

Swallows & Robins - The Guests In My Garden


Susie Kelly - 2012
    A riotous account of the world’s worst housewife’s efforts at running two holiday homes in remotest France and her love/hate relationship with her guests.

The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo


Tom Reiss - 2012
    The real-life protagonist of The Black Count, General Alex Dumas, is a man almost unknown today yet with a story that is strikingly familiar, because his son, the novelist Alexandre Dumas, used it to create some of the best loved heroes of literature.Yet, hidden behind these swashbuckling adventures was an even more incredible secret: the real hero was the son of a black slave -- who rose higher in the white world than any man of his race would before our own time. Born in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), Alex Dumas was briefly sold into bondage but made his way to Paris where he was schooled as a sword-fighting member of the French aristocracy. Enlisting as a private, he rose to command armies at the height of the Revolution in an audacious campaign across Europe and the Middle East – until he met an implacable enemy he could not defeat.The Black Count is simultaneously a riveting adventure story, a lushly textured evocation of 18th-century France, and a window into the modern world’s first multi-racial society. But it is also a heartbreaking story of the enduring bonds of love between a father and son.

The Sister Queens


Sophie Perinot - 2012
    But Louis IX is a religious zealot who denies himself the love and companionship his wife craves. Can she borrow enough of her sister's boldness to grasp her chance for happiness in a forbidden love?Passionate, strong-willed, and stubborn, Eleanor becomes Queen of England. Henry III is a good man, but not a good king. Can Eleanor stop competing with her sister and value what she has, or will she let it slip away?The Sister Queens is historical fiction at its most compelling, and is an unforgettable first novel.

The President's Hat


Antoine Laurain - 2012
    It’s a perfect fit, and as he leaves the restaurant Daniel begins to feel somehow … different.

Paris in Color


Nichole Robertson - 2012
    An orange café chair, bright blue bicycles against a fence, a weathered white door—Nichole Robertson's sumptuous photographs of the distinctive details of Paris, all arranged by color, evoke a sense of serendipitous discovery and celebrate the city as never before. At once a work of art and a window into the heart of the city, Paris in Color will surprise and delight those who love art, design, color, and, of course, Paris!

Treasured Dreams


Jackie Williams - 2012
    With the exciting prospect of a new life in a beautiful French town, she packs her bags and moves to her cottage. Sophie's first tentative steps almost falter as sad memories crowd her thoughts but a handsome Frenchman, whose dark eyes and delicious voice touch the deepest recesses of Sophie's heart, strengthens her resolve. From his studio in town, Xavier cannot take his eyes from the young woman's slender beauty. He's waited years for her to come back to him and he cannot miss this chance to clear his conscience, but is he strong enough to confess his guilt and beg her forgiveness for the tragedy that killed both her parents, or will Sophie condemn him as harshly as he has condemned himself over the past five years? With the family solicitor attempting to seduce her out of far more than just her inheritance, while at the same time destroying Xavier's hard won reputation, Sophie finds herself at the centre of a cruelly twisted conspiracy with only the slimmest chance of rescue or escape. Can Xavier pull himself from the depths of despair and self destruction in time to save the woman he loves or will the haunted dreams and innocent actions of a thirteen year old girl become an insurmountable barrier for him to overcome? This book contains some sensual scenes and adult content

Farewell Bergerac: A World War II Thriller (World War II Adventure Series)


Fredrik Nath - 2012
    Fredrik Nath is one of those few."- The Masked PersonaFrom the author of wartime adventure novel 'The Cyclist', the Historical Novels Society editor's choice February 2011.A reluctant hero in war-torn France...A teacher in St Cyprien, a small town in Aquitaine, France, descends into an alcoholic daze, after his son dies in the Spanish Civil War. His life seems meaningless and he moves to Bergerac where he survives by poaching and fishing. Isolating himself from the world, he ruminates over his hatred of the Fascists who killed his son. He is dragged back to reality when, after the occupation of France by the Nazis, he witnesses Security Police beating a young Jewish girl. He reacts by killing the Germans and hides Rachelle, the young teenager. She breathes life into the world in which he has hidden himself and gives him a reason to go on.Dufy begins a path of revenge on the occupying Germans. A sniper in the Great War, he uses his skills to devastating effect, always posing as the town drunk.Then the British drop supplies and a beautiful SOE agent whom Dufy falls in love with. But as the invaders hunt down the partisans in the deep, crisp woodland, nothing works out as Dufy had hoped.Farewell Bergerac is an unforgettable wartime tale of fragile love, loss and redemption.

Le Road Trip: A Traveler's Journal of Love and France


Vivian Swift - 2012
    Le Road Trip combines the appeal of the iconic American quest with France's irresistible allure, offering readers a totally new perspective of life on the road.Le Road Trip tells the story of one idyllic French honeymoon trip, but it is also a witty handbook of tips and advice on how to thrive as a traveler, a captivating visual record with hundreds of watercolor illustrations, and a chronicle depicting the incomparable charms of being footloose in France. Armchair travelers, die-hard vagabonds, art journalists, and red wine drinkers will all find something to savor in this story.

The Lily and the Lion


Catherine A. Wilson - 2012
    Catherine Pembroke, a naïve novice, has endured a lonely existence behind convent walls, but when Cécile’s letter is intercepted by the malicious Earl of Salisbury, the shy nun is thrust into a dangerous and foreign world. Placed into the custody of a cynical knight, Simon Marshall, Catherine struggles to unravel a past that threatens her future as William of Salisbury begins his own hunt – after the girls – hoping to use them as pawns in his desperate quest for power. Trapped by one of England’s most powerful lords, Cécile yields to him to save her sister. She flees with the aid of the King’s courier, Gillet de Bellegarde, but will her journey see her lose all she holds dear, or just her heart? In an age when women have no control over their lives, Cécile and Catherine find themselves immersed into political turbulence, intrigue, danger and romance. Their hopes of meeting are thwarted by the powerful men around them – even as they provide both distraction and passion, for none appear to be who they claim. The Lily and the Lion will catapult you into a world when knighthood was revered and love was to be cherished.The Lily and the Lion was awarded First Place for Historical Romance in the Chatelaine Awards for Romantic Fiction, a division of the Chanticleer Reviews Novel Writing Competitions in 2013 and received the following review as part of the prize package;Court intrigue, romance, and adventure combine to create a thoroughly enjoyable and suspenseful medieval saga, The Lily and the Lion by Catherine A. Wilson and Catherine T. Wilson. It is an enthralling melodrama set in 1360 France and England, and the first book in the Lions and Lilies series. A mostly epistolary novel, the action nevertheless vibrates with urgency.The novel begins with Cecile d’Armagnac, a beautiful young French courtier, learning that her engagement to the Dauphin has been called off. When she asks why, she discovers that the man who raised her, Jean d’Armagnac, is not her real father. While he does not know much about who her real parents are, he has recently learned that she has a twin sister who has been raised at a convent in England.Cecile writes to her new sister, despite a lingering bitterness over these revelations. While Cecile and her sister, Catherine, could not have been raised in more different circumstances, they begin to find common ground. Meanwhile, their discovery of each other alerts the very villains they were hidden from nineteen years ago to their presence. The convent’s steward, Gillet de Bellegarde, proposes that he act as courier for the sisters’ letters. Instead, he becomes their protector as Catherine survives an assassination attempt by the wicked Lord Salisbury and Cecile becomes entangled with the Black Prince, the English prince Edward.After nearly drowning, Cecile escapes the Black Prince and is rescued by Gillet. As they flee to the countryside together, their sparking banter evolves into love in the face of numerous complications. Catherine is guarded in England by Gillet’s mentor, Simon, the Earl of Wexford. A crude man, he shocks Catherine’s fresh from the convent sensibilities even as he helps her discover the realities of the world. Several twists serve to complicate both sisters’ paths toward the placid family life and blissful reunion of their dreams. As they seek the identities of their parents, they learn that their past is darker and the future more uncertain than they could have imagined.Against the backdrop of conflict between England and France, historical details add depth to the narrative and explore a period of history not often touched in historical romance. Dialogue such as, “You impertinent cesspit of deceit!” adds an element of over the top fun. While the history here certainly is not the story’s main component, The Lily and the Lion will beguile readers with its compelling characters and nonstop drama.Readers will be left wanting more as they will desperately want to find out what happens when Historical-RomanceCecile and Catherine finally meet for the first time. Fortunately for this reader, the next Lions and Lilies book, The Order of the Lily, is available.

Julia's Cats: Julia Child's Life in the Company of Cats


Patricia Barey - 2012
    Soon after the Childs arrived in Paris in 1948, a French cat appeared on their doorstep, and Julia recalled, “Our domestic circle was completed.” Minette captured Julia’s heart, igniting a lifelong passion for cats equaled only by her love of food and her husband, Paul. All the cherished feline companions who shared Julia’s life—in Paris, Provence, and finally California—reminded her of that magical time in Paris when her life changed forever.From Julia’s and Paul’s letters and original interviews with those who knew her best, Patricia Barey and Therese Burson have gathered fresh stories and images that offer a delightfully intimate view of a beloved icon.Praise for Julia's Cats:“A cat-centric biography of Julia Child? Why not? The back book jacket quotes Child herself as saying, ‘Really, the more I cook, the more I like to cook. To think that it has taken me 40 yrs. to find my true creative hobby and passion (cat and husb. excepted).’ This book ably braids these three strands of Child’s life. The many feline fanciers out there will surely enjoy the photographs of the cats, many taken by her husband, Paul Child.” —Chicago Tribune“It's clear that all the cats that passed through her life gave her joy and comfort, probably in ways that food and even Paul could not. Having that perspective of this grande dame makes her seem all the more human and wonderfully admirable to me.” —Epicurious “This compact, entertaining read is filled with personal photos and letters that document the role cats played in Julia's life as she moved from Paris to Provence, Cambridge to California.” —Shelf Awareness

Four Sisters, All Queens


Sherry Jones - 2012
    . . . Amid the lush valleys and fragrant wildflowers of Provence, Marguerite, Elonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have learned to charm, hunt, dance, and debate under the careful tutelage of their ambitious mother--and to abide by the countess's motto: Family comes first.With Provence under constant attack, their legacy and safety depend upon powerful alliances. Marguerite's illustrious match with the young King Louis IX makes her Queen of France. Soon Elonore--independent and daring--is betrothed to Henry III of England. In turn, shy, devout Sanchia and tempestuous Beatrice wed noblemen who will also make them queens.Yet a crown is no guarantee of protection. Enemies are everywhere, from Marguerite's duplicitous mother-in-law to vengeful lovers and land-hungry barons. Then there are the dangers that come from within, as loyalty succumbs to bitter sibling rivalry, and sister is pitted against sister for the prize each believes is rightfully hers--Provence itself.From the treacherous courts of France and England, to the bloody tumult of the Crusades, Sherry Jones traces the extraordinary true story of four fascinating sisters whose passions, conquests, and progeny shaped the course of history.

Street of Thieves


Mathias Énard - 2012
    This novel may even take Zone's place in Christophe Claro's bold pronouncement that Énard's earlier work is "the novel of the decade, if not of the century."Mathias Énard studied Persian and Arabic and spent long periods in the Middle East. A professor of Arabic at the University of Barcelona, he received several awards for Zone—also available from Open Letter—including the Prix du Livre Inter and the Prix Décembre.Charlotte Mandell has translated works from a number of important French authors, including Marcel Proust, Gustave Flaubert, Jean Genet, Guy de Maupassant, and Maurice Blanchot, among others.

Waterloo: The French Perspective


Andrew W. Field - 2012
    Even after 200 years of intensive research and the publication of hundreds of books and articles on the battle, the French perspective and many of the primary French sources are underrepresented in the written record. So it is high time this weakness in the literature – and in our understanding of the battle – was addressed, and that is the purpose of Andrew Field’s thought-provoking new study. He has tracked down over ninety firsthand French accounts, most of which have never been previously published in English, and he has combined them with accounts from the other participants in order to create a graphic new narrative of one of the world’s decisive battles. Virtually all of the hitherto unpublished testimony provides fascinating new detail on the battle and many of the accounts are vivid, revealing and exciting.

French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered 10 Simple Rules for Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters


Karen Le Billon - 2012
    But she didn't expect to be lectured for slipping her fussing toddler a snack, or to be forbidden from packing her older daughter a school lunch. Karen is intrigued by the fact that French children happily eat everything—from beets to broccoli, from salad to spinach—while French obesity rates are a fraction of what they are in North America.Karen soon begins to see the wisdom in the "food rules" that the French use to foster healthy eating habits and good manners in babies and children. Some of the rules call into question both our eating habits and our parenting styles. Other rules evoke commonsense habits that we used to share but have somehow forgotten. Taken together, the rules suggest that we need to dramatically rethink the way we feed children, at home and at school.Combining personal anecdotes with practical tips and appetizing recipes—including Zucchini and Spinach Puree and Bouillabaisse (Fish Soup) for Babies—French Kids Eat Everything is a humorous, provocative look at families, food, and children that is filled with inspiration and advice that every parent can use.

Algeria: France's Undeclared War


Martin Evans - 2012
    The depth and scale of the colonization process explains why the Algerian War of 1954 to 1962 was one of the longest and most violent of the decolonization struggles.An undeclared war in the sense that there was no formal beginning of hostilities, the war produced huge tensions that brought down four governments, ended the Fourth Republic in 1958, and mired the French army in accusations of torture and mass human rights abuses. In carefully re-examining the origins and consequences of the conflict, Martin Evans argues that it was the Socialist led Republican Front, in power from January 1956 until May 1957, which was the defining moment in the war. Predicated on the belief in the universal civilizing mission of the Fourth Republic, coupled with the conviction that Algerian nationalism was feudal and religiously fanatical in character, the Republican Front dramatically intensified the war in the spring of 1956.Drawing upon previously classified archival sources as well as new oral testimonies, this book underlines the conflict of values between the Republican Front and Algerian nationalism, explaining how this clash produced patterns of thought and action, such as the institutionalization of torture and the raising of pro-French Muslim militias, which tragically polarized choices and framed all subsequent stages of the conflict.

Spirit of Lost Angels


Liza Perrat - 2012
    Then her father died beneath the wheels of a nobleman's carriage.Forced to leave her village, Victoire finds work in Paris. But domestic employment comes at a high price and the orphaned girl suffers gruesome abuse at the hands of a diabolical aristocracy.Accused of a heinous crime, they imprison her in the depraved lunatic asylum, La Salpêtrière.With the help of ruthless seductress, Jeanne de Valois –– conwoman of the Necklace Affair that brought down Marie Antoinette –– Victoire must find the strength to join the revolutionary force storming the Bastille.Can she survive a chilling betrayal and rise above her impoverished peasant roots to take her place in this new, post-revolutionary France?Based on historical fact, Spirit of Lost Angels is a riveting testament to the courage of women facing tragedy, betrayal and insanity in a world where their gift can be their curse.

Hidden Gardens of Paris: A Guide to the Parks, Squares, and Woodlands of the City of Light


Susan Cahill - 2012
    Away from the madding crowds, the gardens of Paris offer the balm of flowers, tall old trees, fountains, ponds, sculptures, with quiet Parisians reading Le Monde, taking the sun, relishing the peace.These places are often tucked away, off the beaten tourist track, and without a guide they're easy to miss: The Jardin de l'Atlantique, out of sight on the roof of Gare Montparnasse. The enchanting Jardin de la Vallée Suisse, invisible from the street, accessible only if you know how to find the path. The Square Boucicaut, its children's carousel hidden inside a grove of oak and maples. Square Batignolles, the shade of the old chestnut trees an inspiration to the painter édouard Manet and poet Paul Verlaine.Hidden Gardens of Paris features 40 such oases in quartiers both posh and plain, as well as dozens of others "Nearby" to the featured green space. It is arranged according to the geographic sections of the city—Île de la Cité, Left Bank, Right Bank, Western Paris, Eastern Paris—a lively and informative guide that focuses on each place as a site of passionate cultural memory.

Grape Expectations: A Family's Vineyard Adventure in France


Caro Feely - 2012
    But they arrive in France with their young family (a toddler and a newborn) to be faced with a dilapidated 18th-century farmhouse and an enterprise that may never, ever make them a living. Undeterred by mouse infestations, a leaking roof, treacherous hordes of insects, visits from the local farm "police," and a nasty accident with an agricultural trimmer, Caro and Sean set about transforming their "beyond eccentric" winery into a successful business as they embark on the biggest adventure of their lives—learning to make wine from the roots up.

A Family of Brigands in 1793


Marie de Sainte-Hermine - 2012
    

Rick Steves Snapshot Normandy


Rick Steves - 2012
    Rick Steves and Steve Smith cover the essentials of Normandy, including Rouen, Honfleur, Bayeux, Mont St. Michel, and Dinan. Visit the Big Clock in Rouen that dates back to the Renaissance, or cross the causeway towards Mont St. Michel. You'll get Rick's firsthand advice on the best sights, eating, sleeping, and nightlife, and the maps and self-guided tours will ensure you make the most of your experience. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves Snapshot guide is a tour guide in your pocket.Rick Steves Snapshot guides consist of excerpted chapters from Rick Steves European country guidebooks. Snapshot guides are a great choice for travelers visiting a specific city or region, rather than multiple European destinations. These slim guides offer all of Rick's up-to-date advice on what sights are worth your time and money. They include good-value hotel and restaurant recommendations, with no introductory information (such as overall trip planning, when to go, and travel practicalities).

Angel Heart


Marie Laval - 2012
     Devonshire, January 1815. Marie-Ange, the young widow of an English officer, accepts an inheritance in France only to find that everything in Beauregard is not as it seems. Why is the sinister Malleval so obsessed with her family? And could her darling Christopher still be alive? Marie-Ange finds herself trapped in a dangerous web of lies, intrigue, and mystical possession, and the only person to whom she can turn for help is Capitaine Hugo Saintclair. Yet the enigmatic Hugo represents a danger of a different kind …

Heads Above Water


Stephanie Dagg - 2012
    And yes, there are lots of books about living in France out there already. But a lot of these are the short-term adventures of single people or retired couples or tourists. Moving abroad for good with a family, and without a pension, is a whole new ball game. That’s what makes Heads Above Water different. It’s about us, a family with three children, who stick the hardships out and make things start to work. It’s about actually making a living in a new country. It’s realistic, honest and gritty – but also fun, lively and very entertaining, and, I hope, ultimately inspiring.

A History of the Grandparents I Never Had


Ivan Jablonka - 2012
    When he set out to uncover their story, Jablonka had little to work with. Neither of them was the least bit famous, and they left little behind except their two orphaned children, a handful of letters, and a passport. Persecuted as communists in Poland, as refugees in France, and then as Jews under the Vichy regime, Matès and Idesa lived their short lives underground. They were overcome by the tragedies of the twentieth century: Stalinism, the mounting dangers in Europe during the 1930s, the Second World War, and the destruction of European Jews.Jablonka's challenge was, as a historian, to rigorously distance himself and yet, as family, to invest himself completely in their story. Imagined oppositions collapsed—between scholarly research and personal commitment, between established facts and the passion of the one recording them, between history and the art of storytelling. To write this book, Jablonka traveled to three continents; met the handful of survivors of his grandparents' era, their descendants, and some of his far-flung cousins; and investigated twenty different archives. And in the process, he reflected on his own family and his responsibilities to his father, the orphaned son, and to his own children and the family wounds they all inherited.A History of the Grandparents I Never Had cannot bring Matès and Idesa to life, but Jablonka succeeds in bringing them, as he soberly puts it, to light. The result is a gripping story, a profound reflection, and an absolutely extraordinary history.

LEGIONNAIRE MACKENZIE Harmony in Modern Warfare


Mark Morgan - 2012
    It is about striving to be the best and self-preservation, bravery coupled with ignorance, fear provoking self-confidence, promotion complementing subservience and killing or being killed. This book offers a profound insight into the carefully moulded mindset of elite soldiers in the 21st century and unabashedly divulges the very essence of war.

Sweet Paris: A love affair with Parisian chocolate, pastries and desserts


Michael Paul - 2012
    An irresistible combination of classic French dessert recipes and breathtaking photographic tour of this enchanting city, Sweet Paris is more than just a cookbook: it's a sweet-toothed guide to Paris, a city where even the desserts are chic. With more than thirty distinctly Parisian recipes, ranging from tarts and macarons to madeleines and chocolates, let your taste buds do the walking. A sophisticated design and stunning images help to make this book a timeless keepsake that will be cherished for years to come. Photographer Michael Paul has a passion for both Paris and desserts, which are captured beautifully in his images of the city of light and love. Sit back and flick through the pages to enjoy the ambience and joie de vivre of this remarkable city.

Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity


Gloria Groom - 2012
    Although they have depicted fashionable subjects throughout history, for many artists and writers, including Charles Baudelaire, Stéphane Mallarmé, Émile Zola, Gustave Caillebotte, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, fashion became integral to the search for new literary and visual expression. In a series of essays that examine fashion and its social, cultural, and artistic context during some of the most important years of the Impressionist era—years that also gave birth to the modern fashion industry—a group of fifteen scholars, drawn from five interdisciplinary fields, examine approximately 140 Impressionist-era artworks, including those by dedicated fashion portraitists, in light of the rise of the department store, new working methods for designing clothing, and new social and technological changes that led to the democratization of fashion and, simultaneously, its ascendance as a vehicle for modernity.

Syncopation: A Memoir of Adèle Hugo


Elizabeth Caulfield Felt - 2012
    This view was held by novelist and poet Victor Hugo, but not by his daughter, pianist and poet Adèle Hugo. Under such constraints, what’s a woman of passion to do? Syncopation, by Elizabeth Felt, breathes life into the unconventional thoughts of this controversial female figure. An elderly Adèle recounts her desperate attempts to gain personal freedom. Her memoir blurs the fine line between truth and madness, in a narrative that is off-kilter, skewed... syncopated.

The Chapel in the Woods


Susan Louineau - 2012
    As she settles into her country idyll she uncovers a menace that has shrouded the villagers for generations. Through a 12th century monk and a British agent in WW2 the story of a secret society unfolds.

Forever Paris: 25 Walks in the Footsteps of the City's Most Illustrious Figures


Christina Henry De Tessan - 2012
    From the author of the best-selling City Walks: Paris deck, this lively collection of walking adventures follows in the footsteps of more than 25 of the city's iconic former residents. Throughout, Paris is seen from the intimate vantage point of those who loved it best, from the bars where authors penned classic works to the markets and patisseries where food lovers indulged. Including photos and full-color maps throughout, each walk in this book guides visitors and locals through the city that inspired some of the world's most famous artists, writers, chefs, musicians, politicians, and more.

Curiosities of Paris: An Idiosyncratic Guide to Overlooked Delights... Hidden in Plain Sight


Dominique Lesbros - 2012
    Lavishly illustrated with 800 color photographs, this fact-packed treasury leads readers through the streets of Paris and, by pointing out unique locations and architectural oddities, as well as utilitarian objects whose functions have long been obscured with the passage of time, reveals a previously unnoticed city. Organized by subject--fountains and wells; centuries-old shop signs; vestiges of wars and ancient Egypt; hotels of legend; civic measurement devices; traces of rites and superstitions; remarkable trees; sundials and meridians; equestrian Paris; romantic ruins; unusual tombs, stairways, and passageways; religious relics; mosaics; public barometers and thermometers; and hundreds more urban elements and anachronisms--this delightful guide deepens the reader's knowledge and appreciation of Paris through the centuries. In the introduction to her unusual encyclopedia of the Parisian streetscape, Dominique Lesbros writes, -a city is nothing if not a vast cabinet of curiosities.- Entrez! The book also includes three themed walks (along the city's ancient walls, in the steps of Quasimodo, and through the French Revolution), as well as an index of street names.

The Secrets of Paris


Michael Kerrigan - 2012
    They come to marvel at her beauty, and it is this that is captured in the pages of this beautifully photographed volume. Covering all the most important sights and arrondissements, The Secrets of Paris documents the infinitely varied face of this remarkable metropolis – from the grand Hausmann-era Champs-Elysées and Arc de Triomphe, to the delightful staircases of Montmartre, from the Gothic splendor of Notre Dame to the ultra-modern Grande Arche de la Défense.The Secrets of Paris takes you on an amazing journey through the rich history and architectural heritage of the city. Stunning photographs are brought to life by Michael Kerrigan’s insights into Paris’s historic past and contemporary life. The Roman amphitheatre of ancient Lutetia, the Medieval Latin Quarter and the Sorbonne, the exquisite Beaux-Arts Musée d’Orsay and the futuristic Centre Georges Pompidou are all here. Also evoked is the atmosphere of Paris, from intimate bars and bistros – once the backdrop to artists such as Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and Pablo Picasso – to street markets and the food shops of Place de la Madeleine, to wide boulevards filled with racing traffic and lined with dazzling Belle-Époque cafés. Quiet, hidden gems are also revealed. The Village Saint-Paul or the Square Georges-Cain, both in the Marais, or the Cour Damoye in the Bastille, are tranquil, picturesque, almost forgotten havens in the heart of the sprawling city and to visit them can feel like stepping back in time. The Secrets of Paris is a stunningly diverse pictorial guide to this captivating city.

We Have Only This Life to Live: The Selected Essays of Jean-Paul Sartre, 1939-1975


Jean-Paul Sartre - 2012
    The essay was uniquely suited to Sartre because of its intrinsically provisional and open-ended character. It is the perfect form in which to dramatize the existential character of our deepest intellectual, artistic, and political commitments. This new selection of Sartre’s essays, the first in English to draw on the entire ten volumes of his collected essays as well as previously unpublished work, includes extraordinarily searching appreciations of such writers and artists as Faulkner, Bataille, and Giacometti; Sartre’s great address to the French people at the end of the occupation, “The Republic of Silence”; sketches of the United States from his visit in the 1940s; reflections on politics that are both incisive and incendiary; portraits of Camus and Merleau-Ponty; and a candid reckoning with his own career from one of the interviews that ill-health made his prime mode of communication late in life. Together they add up to an unequaled portrait of a revolutionary and sometimes reckless thinker and writer and his contentious, difficult but never less than interesting times.

The Blood of Free Men: The Liberation of Paris, 1944


Michael S. Neiberg - 2012
    Other jewels of Europe -- sites like Warsaw, Antwerp, and Monte Cassino -- were, or would soon be, reduced to rubble during attempts to liberate them. But Paris endured, thanks to a fractious cast of characters, from Resistance cells to Free French operatives to an unlikely assortment of diplomats, Allied generals, and governmental officials. Their efforts, and those of the German forces fighting to maintain control of the city, would shape the course of the battle for Europe and color popular memory of the conflict for generations to come. In The Blood of Free Men, celebrated historian Michael Neiberg deftly tracks the forces vying for Paris, providing a revealing new look at the city's dramatic and triumphant resistance against the Nazis. The salvation of Paris was not a foregone conclusion, Neiberg shows, and the liberation was a chaotic operation that could have easily ended in the city's ruin. The Allies were intent on bypassing Paris so as to strike the heart of the Third Reich in Germany, and the French themselves were deeply divided; feuding political cells fought for control of the Resistance within Paris, as did Charles de Gaulle and his Free French Forces outside the city. Although many of Paris's citizens initially chose a tenuous stability over outright resistance to the German occupation, they were forced to act when the approaching fighting pushed the city to the brink of starvation. In a desperate bid to save their city, ordinary Parisians took to the streets, and through a combination of valiant fighting, shrewd diplomacy, and last-minute aid from the Allies, managed to save the City of Lights. A groundbreaking, arresting narrative of the liberation, The Blood of Free Men tells the full story of one of the war's defining moments, when a tortured city and its inhabitants narrowly survived the deadliest conflict in human history.

The Twisted Vine


Alex Martin - 2012
    Especially one into the unknown. The shocking discovery of her lover with someone else propels Roxanne into escaping to France, and seeking work as a grape-picker. She's never been abroad before and certainly never travelled alone. Opportunistic loner, Armand, exploits her vulnerability when they meet by chance. She never thought she would see him again, or be the one who exposes his terrible crime.Join Roxanne on her journey of self discovery, love and tragedy in rural France. Taste the wine, feel the sun, drive through the Provencal mountains with her, as her courage and resourcefulness are tested to the limit.

The Night Before Christmas in Paris


Betty Lou Phillips - 2012
    Claus’s imagination—as they would any woman’s! This charming story finds Mrs. Claus fabulously ensconced in Paris, having enjoyed fashion week and been lured for several months’ stay by all the sights, scents, and couture of Paris. In the end, Santa takes a quick tour of the City of Light himself—the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées, the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, Notre Dame, Montmartre and more—to find the satiated Mrs. Claus and whisk her back home just in time to help the elves with the last-minute packing of toys for children all over the world.

Anquetil, Alone


Paul Fournel - 2012
    His womanising and frank admissions of doping appalled 1960s French society, even as his five Tour de France wins enthralled it. Paul Fournel was besotted with him from the start ("Too young to understand, I was nevertheless old enough to admire") and followed Anquetil's career with the passion of a fan and the eye of a poet. In this stunningly original biography of a complex and divisive character, Fournel - author of the seminal Vélo (or Need for the Bike) blends the story of Anquetil's life with scenes from his own, to create a classic of cycling literature.

Robespierre: A Revolutionary Life


Peter McPhee - 2012
    For many others, he was the first modern dictator, a fanatic who instigated the murderous Reign of Terror in 1793–94. This masterful biography combines new research into Robespierre's dramatic life with a deep understanding of society and the politics of the French Revolution to arrive at a fresh understanding of the man, his passions, and his tragic shortcomings.Peter McPhee gives special attention to Robespierre's formative years and the development of an iron will in a frail boy conceived outside wedlock and on the margins of polite provincial society. Exploring how these experiences formed the young lawyer who arrived in Versailles in 1789, the author discovers not the cold, obsessive Robespierre of legend, but a man of passion with close but platonic friendships with women. Soon immersed in revolutionary conflict, he suffered increasingly lengthy periods of nervous collapse correlating with moments of political crisis, yet Robespierre was tragically unable to step away from the crushing burdens of leadership. Did his ruthless, uncompromising exercise of power reflect a descent into madness in his final year of life? McPhee reevaluates the ideology and reality of "the Terror," what Robespierre intended, and whether it represented an abandonment or a reversal of his early liberalism and sense of justice.

Sleeping People Lie


Jae De Wylde - 2012
    The attraction is immediate. Sloane believes that she has found the love of her life. But as the days pass, it becomes clear that things are not quite as they seem.Christmastime in New York and Nicholas and Sloane are finally making plans. Their fixation, one with the other, is overwhelming. But fate has a way of disrupting what they are certain is meant to be – and disaster is on the way.Telling their story to ‘Em’, Nicholas and Sloane recount their first meeting, their thoughts and actions and the tale of their passionate affair, delving ever deeper into the dark and sinister side of compulsive love.What is it that is driving them, why is it so urgent – and who is the mysterious Em?Jae De Wylde explores the raw emotion of obsessive love and the power of perception in this poignant, compelling and splendidly-paced tale of secrets, lies, blame and guilt with its bitter, heart-breaking twists.

They Shall Not Pass: The French Army on the Western Front 1914-1918


Ian Sumner - 2012
    It reveals in authentic detail the perceptions and emotions of soldiers and civilians who were caught up in the most destructive conflict the world had ever seen.

Shakespeare and Company


Sylvia Whitman - 2012
    

Nicole de V�sian: Gardens, Modern Design in Provence


Louisa Jones - 2012
    Classically French in form (even if devoid of symmetry), pared down without being austere and in profound harmony with the surrounding countryside, these green and grey tapestries quickly came to inspire gardeners and garden designers the world over. Indeed, few French gardens are as widely imitated as those of Vesian; as Louisa Jones writes, -she had a feeling for space just as a musician has a good ear.- This monograph is the first devoted to Vesian's work, and offers testimonies, reflections and full-color views of her most celebrated creations, including her own celebrated garden, La Louve, in the hilltop village of Bonnieux.

The Marcel Network: How One French Couple Saved 527 Children from the Holocaust


Fred Coleman - 2012
    This young Jewish couple—he a graduate student in theater, and she a doctor—was poor but resolute. Risking their own lives and relying on false papers, the Abadis hid Jewish children in Catholic schools and convents and with Protestant families. In 1943, their clandestine organization—the Marcel Network—became one of the most successful operations of Jewish resistance in Europe. By the end of the war, 527 children owed their survival to the Abadis. Yet their improbable success came with almost unspeakable sacrifice. As an example of what just two people of good will can accomplish in the face of crimes against humanity, the Abadis' story is a lesson in moral and physical courage. Drawn from a multitude of sources, including hundreds of documents in the Abadis' archives and dozens of interviews with the now grown children they rescued, Fred Coleman tells the Abadis' full story for the first time. The Marcel Network also breaks historic ground, and reveals how the Catholic Church, French Christians, and Jews themselves did far more to save Jewish lives than is generally known.

The Beauty of the Real: What Hollywood Can Learn from Contemporary French Actresses


Mick LaSalle - 2012
    In France, the joy of acting is alive and well. Scores of French actresses are doing the best work of their lives in movies tailored to their star images and unique personalities. Yet virtually no one this side of the Atlantic even knows about them. Viewers who feel shortchanged by Hollywood will be thrilled to discover The Beauty of the Real.This book showcases a range of contemporary French actresses to an audience that will know how to appreciate them—an American public hungry for the exact qualities that these women represent. To spend time with them, to admire their flashing intelligence and fearless willingness to depict life as it is lived, gives us what we're looking for in movies but so rarely find: insights into womanhood, meditations on the dark and light aspect's of life's journey, revelations and explorations that move viewers to reflect on their own lives. The stories they bring to the screen leave us feeling renewed and excited about movies again.Based on one-on-one interviews and the viewing of numerous films, Mick LaSalle has put together a fascinating profile of recent generations of French film stars and an overview of their best work. These women's insights and words illuminate his book, which will answer once and for all the two questions Americans most often have about women and the movies: Where did all the great actresses go? And how can I see their movies?Please click here to see a video discussing The Beauty of the Real at the Roxie Film Festival.

Paris-Chien: Adventures of an Expat Dog


Jackie Clark Mancuso - 2012
    But when he tries to make friends, he is surprised to discover that Parisian dogs only speak French. Nobody told him about this part. Though initially disheartened, little Hudson’s desire to make friends and thrive in his new environment is so strong that he learns a new language. Hudson becomes a Paris-Chien! (A pun on Parisien.) Hudson’s successful experience will be meaningful to any child set down in any new country, city, or school. Beautifully illustrated with gouache paintings of Paris parks, markets, cafes and dogs, Paris-Chien is one of those books that’s enjoyable for both the reader and the read-to. French words appear in the illustrations, so you’ll even learn a little French!

The Church of Tango: a Memoir


Cherie Magnus - 2012
    A dancer all her life, she'd had to put it on hold while raising her artistic sons and caring for her dying husband. Now as she set her suitcase down on the ancient cobblestones of a Paris courtyard, she wondered -- 48 years old, 6,000 miles from home, knowing no one -- what she was doing? Each time disaster strikes, Cherie forges ahead, struggling to save herself from the wreckage by listening to the music and dancing, first in Los Angeles, then France, Mexico, Holland, and finally in the tango salons of Buenos Aires.

Walking Paris


Pas Paschali - 2012
    Part of a brand-new series from National Geographic that showcases the world's great cities, Walking Paris is divided into the following sections: The Whirlwind Tours section shows you how to see the entire city in a day or a weekend; what sights will interest kids most; plus, a hedonist's tour that's pure pleasure from dawn to midnight and beyond.The Neighborhoods section of the book presents the city broken down into 15-odd itineraries that lead you on a step-by-step tour to the best sights in each of the city's greatest neighborhoods--from The Islands and the Latin Quarter to the Champs-Elysees and Montmartre.Travel Essentials provides information on how to get to the city and how to get around, as well as hand-picked hotels and restaurants.Each itinerary includes the following features: Distinctly Paris: Explore the city through 2-page features that showcase the quintessential aspects of the city, such as Impressionist Paris, Gothic Architecture, and Royal Paris. Here you'll get intriguing background information to help you understand why this city is one of the world's greatest. Best of: Specific thematic groupings of sights are described, such as Paris By Night, Cafes & Brasseries, and Flea Markets. In-depth: These spreads take a deep dive into a major museum or other sight--Notre-Dame, Centre Pompidou, Opera Garnier-- providing step-by-step guidance on what to see and how to plan your visit.Sidebars throughout give you the low down on shopping, eating, and going out on the town, and offer insider tips and interesting asides.

15-Minute French


D.K. Publishing - 2012
    No writing or homework - just use the cover to hide the answers and test yourself as you learn. The accompanying compact discs will help you perfect your pronunication.

Gilbert Simondon and the Philosophy of the Transindividual


Muriel Combes - 2012
    It is this last work that brought Simondon into the public eye; as a consequence, he has been considered a "thinker of technics" and cited often in pedagogical reports on teaching technology. Yet Simondon was a philosopher whose ambitions lay in an in-depth renewal of ontology as a process of individuation--that is, how individuals come into being, persist, and transform. In this accessible yet rigorous introduction to Simondon's work, Muriel Combes helps to bridge the gap between Simondon's account of technics and his philosophy of individuation.Some thinkers have found inspiration in Simondon's philosophy of individuation, notably Gilles Deleuze and F�lix Guattari. Combes's account, first published in French in 1999, is one of the only studies of Simondon to appear in English. Combes breaks new ground, exploring an ethics and politics adequate to Simondon's hypothesis of preindividual being, considering through the lens of transindividual philosophy what form a nonservile relation to technology might take today. Her book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand Simondon's work.

Proust, Blanchot and a Woman in Red


Lydia Davis - 2012
    She muses on the near-impossibility of summarizing works by Maurice Blanchot, and ends with a group of short narratives that explore the space between dream and waking reality. This cahier is a wondrous adventure into the perils and delights of translating, of reading–and of dreaming.

A Countess in Limbo: Diaries in War & Revolution; Russia 1914-1920, France 1939-1947


Olga Hendrikoff - 2012
    But on the eve of her wedding in 1914 came the first rumours of an impending war - a war that would change her life forever and force her to flee her country as a stateless person, with no country to call home. Spanning two of the most turbulent times in modern history - World War I in Russia and World War II in Paris - Countess Hendrikoff's journals demonstrate the uncertainty, horror and hope of daily life in the midst of turmoil. Her razor-sharp insight, wit and sense of humour create a fascinating eyewitness account of the Russian Revolution and the Occupation and Liberation of Paris. In A Countess in Limbo, Countess Hendrikoff tells her remarkable true story that includes the loss of her brother in the Russian Gulag, her sister-in-law murdered with the Russian Imperial family, and herself being robbed at gunpoint and accused of being a spy by the Nazis. She also speaks of the daily life that continues during wartime - ration cards and food restrictions, the black market, and the struggle just to get by for another day. Her gripping story and thoughtful analysis provide an invaluable look at life and humanity in the face of war.

The Little Bookroom Guide to Paris with Children: Play, Eat, Shop, Stay


Kim Horton Levesque - 2012
     Organized around places to eat, play, and shop, there’s lots of information on family-friendly restaurants (yes, they exist in Paris), classic cafés where Parisians take their children, items on Parisian menus that appeal to children, charming tea salons for your little Madeline, ice-cream stands and parlors for everybody, and places for picnicking and snacking; parks and playgrounds near attractions, and how to feel at home in the parks, including all you need to know about pony rides, marionette shows, model-boat rentals, merry-go-rounds, and more; where to shop with children and for them, including the best places to find quintessential French children’s clothing (espadrilles, striped sailor’s jerseys, and, this being France, perfume for babies!) as well as the best baby gear and toys at both exclusive shops and chain stores. Levesque also profiles the best small boutiques that feature French designers for children’s clothing and artisanal toys. The guide also includes practical advice on finding a babysitter in a pinch or an English-speaking playgroup; words you may need at pharmacies, whether the problem is a sore throat, blisters, or an upset stomach; and how to locate a toilet when your child needs one. And you’ll feel comfortable anywhere in the city after the author debriefs you on stroller etiquette. Levesque also provides fascinating glimpses into the lives of Parisian children: typical school lunches (a cheese course? bien sûr!); the all-important after-school goûter; the classic French layette; formula and baby food (forget applesauce, think ratatouille, potato leek, artichoke, and more); and all sorts of fascinating and useful information that will make your trip en famille an easy and pleasurable one. Bon voyage!

The Cross and the Dragon


Kim Rendfeld - 2012
    Yet the jilted suitor’s malice is nothing compared to Alda’s premonition of disaster for her beloved, battle-scarred husband.Although the army invading Hispania is the largest ever and King Charles has never lost a war, Alda cannot shake her anxiety. Determined to keep Hruodland from harm, even if it exposes her to danger, Alda gives him a charmed dragon amulet.Is its magic enough to keep Alda’s worst fears from coming true—and protect her from Ganelon?Inspired by legend and painstakingly researched, "The Cross and the Dragon" is a story of tenderness, sacrifice, lies, and revenge—a novel reviewers call “addictive,” “a delightfully entertaining and thrilling read,” and “a powerful tale.”

French Food Safari


Maeve O'Meara - 2012
    Maeve O’Meara and chef Guillaume Brahimi explore both Paris and regional France – visiting some of France’s top chefs and providores.Meet the acclaimed Alain Ducasse, with an unprecedented 19 Michelin stars; the father of modern French cooking Paul Bocuse; legendary chef Guy Savoy, who has restaurants on three continents; and the incomparable king of sweets Pierre Hermé. Maeve and Guillaume take us into the ancient cellars below the streets of Paris to meet baker Jean-Luc Poujauran, patissier Fabrice Le Bourdat and the legendary wood-fired oven of bakers Poilâne; on a delicious journey into the fragrant cheese rooms of Laurent Dubois; to the mountains of the Ardèche, the home of prolific cookbook author and chef Stéphane Reynaud; searching for truffles with the Pebeyre family, among groves of oak trees in Périgord; and into the aromatic world of Maison du Chocolat where liquid chocolate is transformed into exquisite sweet delights. Australia’s crème de la crème of French-inspired chefs also feature in this mouth-watering cookbook, sharing their wisdom and recipes. Along with Guillaume Brahimi they share favourite recipes and introduce the classics of French cuisine.The French Food Safari ebook is far more than a cookbook, it’s a glimpse into a way of life that celebrates one of the best cuisines on the planet – a culture that revolves around sourcing and cooking the best regional produce, and taking the time to sit and enjoy the delicious results.

Painting: Musee D'Orsay


Stéphane Guégan - 2012
    Published for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the museum at the start of 2012, the volume presents 300 works in an order that is both chronological and thematic, thereby offering a comprehensive overview of the history of painting of the period, with the didactic intent of rendering it accessible to the widest possible public. Built up over time through purchases by the state, donations and bequests from artists, collectors, and patrons, and also thanks to an active acquisitions policy, the Musée d’Orsay’s collection of pictures today constitutes an exceptional holding represented by the greatest names and schools of painting between 1848 and 1914, such as symbolism (Moreau, Puvis de Chavannes, Redon), realism (Courbet, Fantin-Latour), the Barbizon school (Corot, Millet, Rousseau), impressionism (Caillebotte, Cézanne, Degas, Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley), post impressionism (Seurat, Gauguin, van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec), and the Nabis (Bonnard, Denis, Vuillard). For its new hanging in the picture galleries, the Musée d’Orsay is highlighting its extraordinary masterpieces to offer the public an increasingly complete yet fresh survey of that fruitful and varied era, one of the most creative and abundant in the history of art.

Freedom Papers: An Atlantic Odyssey in the Age of Emancipation


Rebecca J. Scott - 2012
    Those who enslaved her there named her Rosalie. Her later efforts to escape slavery were the beginning of a family's quest, across five generations and three continents, for lives of dignity and equality. "Freedom Papers" sets the saga of Rosalie and her descendants against the background of three great antiracist struggles of the nineteenth century: the Haitian Revolution, the French Revolution of 1848, and the Civil War and Reconstruction in the United States.Freed during the Haitian Revolution, Rosalie and her daughter Elisabeth fled to Cuba in 1803. A few years later, Elisabeth departed for New Orleans, where she married a carpenter, Jacques Tinchant. In the 1830s, with tension rising against free persons of color, they left for France. Subsequent generations of Tinchants fought in the Union Army, argued for equal rights at Louisiana's state constitutional convention, and created a transatlantic tobacco network that turned their Creole past into a commercial asset. Yet the fragility of freedom and security became clear when, a century later, Rosalie's great-great-granddaughter Marie-Jose was arrested by Nazi forces occupying Belgium."Freedom Papers" follows the Tinchants as each generation tries to use the power and legitimacy of documents to help secure freedom and respect. The strategies they used to overcome the constraints of slavery, war, and colonialism suggest the contours of the lives of people of color across the Atlantic world during this turbulent epoch."

Rick Steves' Walk: Historic Paris


Rick Steves - 2012
    

The Beguine, the Angel, and the Inquisitor: The Trials of Marguerite Porete and Guiard of Cressonessart


Sean L. Field - 2012
    William next consigned Guiard of Cressonessart, an apocalyptic activist in the tradition of Joachim of Fiore and a would-be defender of Marguerite, to perpetual imprisonment. Over several months, William of Paris conducted inquisitorial processes against them, complete with multiple consultations of experts in theology and canon law. Though Guiard recanted at the last moment and thus saved his life, Marguerite went to her execution the day after her sentencing.The Beguine, the Angel, and the Inquisitor is an analysis of the inquisitorial trials, their political as well as ecclesiastical context, and their historical significance. Marguerite Porete was the first female Christian mystic burned at the stake after authoring a book, and the survival of her work makes her case absolutely unique. The Mirror of Simple Souls, rediscovered in the twentieth century and reconnected to Marguerite's name only a half-century ago, is now recognized as one of the most daring, vibrant, and original examples of the vernacular theology and beguine mysticism that emerged in late thirteenth-century Christian Europe. Field provides a new and detailed reconstruction of hitherto neglected aspects of Marguerite’s life, particularly of her trial, as well as the first extended consideration of her inquisitor's maneuvers and motivations. Additionally, he gives the first complete English translation of all of the trial documents and relevant contemporary chronicles, as well as the first English translation of Arnau of Vilanova’s intriguing “Letter to Those Wearing the Leather Belt,” directed to Guiard's supporters and urging them to submit to ecclesiastical authority. "Sean Field's new book is top-of-the-line historical scholarship, exquisitely written, and deeply satisfying on more than one level: for its research, for the quality of the documentation and argument, but also for its careful organization and smooth exposition, which transform a complicated story into a scholarly page-turner." —Walter P. Simons, Dartmouth College

Parisian Chic Weekly Planner


Inès de La Fressange - 2012
    The authors of the New York Times bestseller 'Parisian Chic' share a whole years worth of brand-new fashion, style, and beauty advice in this illustrated diary.

The Hammock: A novel based on the true story of French painter James Tissot


Lucy Paquette - 2012
    Handsome and charming, his friends included the painters James McNeill Whistler, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Lawrence Alma-Tadema and John Everett Millais. When the Prussians attacked Paris that year, Tissot became a sharpshooter in the artists’ brigade defending the besieged capital. After a bloody Communist rebellion, fought virtually at the doorstep of his mansion, he fled to London.Amid suspicions that he was a Communist, he quickly rebuilt his brilliant career among the Industrial Age’s nouveaux riches. In 1876, Tissot took a young Irish divorcée as his mistress and muse. He referred to her only as “La Mystérieuse” and withdrew from Society to paint her in his garden paradise in the suburbs. Within three years, his pictures had pushed the boundaries of Victorian morality, and the British art establishment turned against him. In a debacle of friendship, fame and loss, his artistic heyday of painting a decade of glamour and leisure in London came to an end. Celebrated during his lifetime, Tissot has been nearly forgotten by all but art historians.THE HAMMOCK is a psychological portrait, exploring the forces that unwound the career of this complex man. Based on contemporary sources, the novel brings Tissot’s world alive in a story of war, art, Society glamour, love, scandal, and tragedy.Illustrated with 17 stunning, high-resolution fine art images in full color, courtesy of The Bridgeman Art Library. QED seal for quality in e-book design.

Rodin Eros


Pascal Bonafoux - 2012
    Throughout his career, he depictedsexual desire in all its facets, in every mood from delicate innocence to frankintensity, bearing witness to an endless fascination with the flesh and a love ofthe female form.Taking a chronological path through Rodin's career, this is an intimate approachto the many faces of sex and sensuality in his body of work and in the society withinwhich his art was forged, from mythological portrayals of passion to the context ofcontemporary erotic literature. The topics featured include his relationships withwomen, his friendships with poets and artists, and the controversy that his sculpturescaused in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when French societywas marked by a hypocritical disparity between public morals and private desires.In a 1916 interview, Rodin spoke out against his critics: "They protest againstthe immorality of my work, they criticize me for loving women…. But they areincapable of understanding what I do." This witty and insightful book, packed withbeautiful images, will shed new light on this intriguing aspect of the artist's worldand his skill at capturing the fleeting nature of pleasure in timeless art.

Rückzug: The German Retreat from France, 1944


Joachim Ludewig - 2012
    The massive landing on France's coast had been meticulously planned for three years, and the Allies anticipated a quick and decisive defeat of the German forces. Many of the planners were surprised, however, by the length of time it ultimately took to defeat the Germans. While much has been written about D-day, very little has been written about the crucial period from Augus

Green Blood is for France


John J. Gaynard - 2012
    The search to find her killer takes Timothy O’Mahony far from his placid existence as a Garda sergeant in Bangor Erris into the corruption and machinations surrounding the election campaigns for the next President of France. With his prime suspects in the inner circle of Laurent Delahaye, the main opposition contender for the Presidency and womanising one-time leader of the Social Democratic party, O’Mahony finds that even senior French judges and policemen cannot always be relied upon to be impartial when a case may have political implications.His own position becomes increasingly difficult as he follows the trail to the Congo and finds a link between its brutal dictator, a French oil company, at least one of the suspects, and the dead woman. When he loses the cooperation of his French colleagues and is taken off the case, O’Mahony, in his search for justice for the murdered girl and her family, finally has to call on the help of the Irish travelling community, known for their distrust and dislike of the Irish police.

The Cemetery of Swallows


Mallock - 2012
    When questioned by police, Manuel can only explain his bizarre actions by saying, �I killed him because he had killed me.” Unable to comprehend why an ordinary family man with no history of violent behavior would go to such lengths to kill a man he didn’t even know, Police Commissioner Amédée Mallock decides to investigate. In order to save Manuel from death, the misanthropic Mallock must immerse himself in the harsh tropical jungles of the Dominican Republic and the snow-covered streets of Paris.

French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and Culture: The Capretz Method, Workbook Part 1


Pierre J. Capretz - 2012
    Since it was first published, French in Action: A Beginning Course in Language and Culture—The Capretz Method has been widely recognized in the field as a model for video-based foreign-language instructional materials. The third edition has been revised by Pierre Capretz and Barry Lydgate and includes new, contemporary illustrations throughout and more-relevant information for today's students in the Documents sections of each lesson. A completely new feature is a journal by the popular character Marie-Laure, who observes and humorously comments on the political, cultural, and technological changes in the world between 1985 and today. The new edition also incorporates more content about the entire Francophone world. In use by hundreds of colleges, universities, and high schools, French in Action remains a powerful educational resource, and the third edition updates the course for a new generation of learners.

The Chicago Companion to Tocqueville's Democracy in America


James T. Schleifer - 2012
    The work is, however, as challenging as it is important; its arguments can be complex and subtle, and its sheer length can make it difficult for any reader, especially one coming to it for the first time, to grasp Tocqueville’s meaning. The Chicago Companion to Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America” is the first book written expressly to help general readers and students alike get the most out of this seminal work.Now James T. Schleifer, an expert on Tocqueville, has provided the background and information readers need in order to understand Tocqueville’s masterwork. In clear and engaging prose, Schleifer explains why Democracy in America is so important, how it came to be written, and how different generations of Americans have interpreted it since its publication. He also presents indispensable insight on who Tocqueville was, his trip to America, and what he meant by equality, democracy, and liberty. Drawing upon his intimate knowledge of Tocqueville’s papers and manuscripts, Schleifer reveals how Tocqueville’s ideas took shape and changed even in the course of writing the book. At the same time, Schleifer provides a detailed glossary of key terms and key passages, all accompanied by generous citations to the relevant pages in the University of Chicago Press Mansfield/Winthrop translation. The Chicago Companion will serve generations of readers as an essential guide to both the man and his work.

The Turquoise Cross


Sandra Olson - 2012
    The castle she inherits includes a family mystery. During World War II her grandmother's disappearance crushed her grandfather and has haunted the family for over ten years. Are there still clues she can uncover? And finding the man of her dreams, Pierre Jardin, starts of chain of events that not only threatens her life but that of her twin infants. As a vindictive woman from Pierre's past plots to kill Marcie, her ultimate revenge is to sell their babies to a man running a black market adoption ring. While a brave nurse, Nadine L'Orange, tries desperately to protect the infants, time is running out. Set in post-war France this novel of romance and intrigue gives the reader a vivid description of the landscape and culture of this wonderful country.

Ramblings in Ireland


Kerry Dwyer - 2012
    More practically the ability to read a map might have proved helpful. The tourist office in Ireland has all their paths clearly marked. You can’t go wrong if you follow that little yellow man. Or can you? As British ex-patriate Kerry Dwyer leads Bertrand, her trusting French husband, astray once more, they reminisce and reflect upon accents and accidents, family and friends, love and what it means to be alive. Bertrand doesn’t mind getting lost – he loves Kerry all the more for going off the beaten track.This is a book about ramblings in Ireland. Walk with Kerry and Bertrand and follow where your thoughts lead you.

First Blood


Sarah Marques - 2012
    Kings have bowed before them. The Church has been corrupted and only a few renegade priests and musketeers hold out to save humanity. It is against this backdrop that seminary student Rene D’Herblay finds himself fighting not only for his life, but for the lives of those he holds dear. Fleeing an attack on his seminary, young Rene embarks upon a new mission, one to cleanse his ancestral lands of the vampires and one that ultimately leads him to cross paths with musketeers Athos and Porthos. This leads to a new life and identity and Rene, now Aramis, will join Athos and Porthos to become the Three Musketeers. First Blood is a prequel novella to Sword & Blood, the first book in the Vampire Musketeer series. Included with First Blood is a free preview of Sword & Blood.For a limited time, the price has been reduced.

Religious Art in France of the Thirteenth Century


Émile Mâle - 2012
    

French All-In-One for Dummies


Eliane Kurbegov - 2012
    Whether you need to learn the language for a French class, or for business or leisure travel, French for Dummies All-In-One makes it easier.With nearly 800 pages, French All-in-One For Dummies is for those readers looking for a comprehensive guide to help them immerse themselves in the French language.Culls vital information from several Dummies titles, offering you a comprehensive, all-encompassing guide to speaking and using French Includes French Canadian content and enhanced practiced opportunities Its accompanying audio CD provides you with en effective tool to start speaking French right away Both new students of French and experienced speakers can benefit from the wealth of information that has been included in French All-in-One For Dummies.CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

Directory of World Cinema: France


Tim Palmer - 2012
    With its vigorous business and wide-ranging film culture, France has also been home historically to some of the most influential filmmakers and movements – and, indeed, the very first motion picture was screened in Paris in 1895.This volume addresses the great directors and key artistic movements, but also ventures beyond these well-established films and figures, broadening the canon through an examination of many neglected but intriguing French films. Framing essays explore the salient stylistic elements, cultural contexts, and the various conceptions of cinema in France, from avant-gardes to filmmaking by women, from documentary and realism to the Tradition of Quality, as well as genres like comedy, crime film, and horror. Illustrated by screen shots, film reviews by leading international experts offer original approaches to both overlooked titles and acknowledged classics. Readers wishing to explore particular topics in greater depth will be grateful for the book’s reading recommendations and comprehensive filmography.A visually engaging journey through one of the most dynamic, variegated, and idiosyncratic film industries, Directory of World Cinema: France is a must-have for Francophiles and cinema savants.

Le Quesnoy: The Story of the Town New Zealand Saved


Glyn Harper - 2012
    It is surrounded by high walls and deep trenches. In World War I it was occupied by the German army for four long years.In November 1918 the town was liberated by soldiers from far-away New Zealand. Because these men used a bit of kiwi ingenuity they were able to take the town back without a single civilian life being lost. This has become one of the most famous stories in New Zealand military history and the relationship between Le Quesnoy and New Zealand continues to this day.This book tells the story of Le Quesnoy's liberation through the eyes of a child living in the town at the time. Stunning watercolour illustrations and simple language make this an ANZAC picture book that young readers will be able to imaginatively engage with.

Prisoners of War in the Hundred Years War: Ransom Culture in the Late Middle Ages


R My Amb Hl - 2012
    By the opening stages of the Hundred Years War, ransoming had become widespread among the knightly community, and the crown had already begun to exercise tighter control over the practice of war. This led to tensions between public and private interests over ransoms and prisoners of war. Historians have long emphasised the significance of the French and English crowns' interference in the issue of prisoners of war, but this original and stimulating study questions whether they have been too influenced by the state-centred nature of most surviving sources. Based on extensive archival research, this book tests customs, laws and theory against the individual experiences of captors and prisoners during the Hundred Years War, to evoke their world in all its complexity.

Walking with Stones: A Spiritual Odyssey on the Pilgrimage to Santiago


William S. Schmidt - 2012
    In these pages we find a story of profound spiritual renewal, forged from the very depths of our hearts. The very stones themselves become a witness to our quest.

Seasons of Change


June Walker Smith - 2012
    All four have very different lifestyles. Their stories interweave and are tinged with joy, humour, sadness and regrets. Chloe is struggling in a long-term relationship with a married man. Will she find the courage to end the relationship and move on, or will she continue to remain the brow-beaten ‘other woman’? Sarah appears to have it all – she’s attractive, wealthy and an incorrigible flirt but will she ever be truly happy? What price is she prepared to pay to achieve ultimate happiness? Linda has only ever loved one man - her husband Mike, who died in an accident when she was pregnant with their daughter. Whilst excitedly preparing to become a grandmother for the first time she is hit by a serious illness. How will her own daughter, Emma, react when faced with emotional turmoil? Sam is searching for someone to share her life with and is desperate to meet ‘Mr Right’. Her quest follows her experiences with dating agencies until she meets Dan. But is he really the right man for her? Whilst celebrating their fortieth birthdays in the south of France, Sarah is viciously attacked and left for dead. Is her attack the catalyst that causes her life, and eventually Chloe’s, to be changed irrevocably?

Reflections: The Piano Music of Maurice Ravel


Paul Roberts - 2012
    This book is about how performers and listeners can discover it and relate to it - how it sounds and feels under the fingers and within the receptive imagination. But to write about those experiences, to explore the background, influences, and impulses behind Ravel's music, is to be engaged in a form of biography. Discovering the delicate melancholy of the Pavane and the Sonatine, the astounding virtuosity of Gaspard de la nuit, and the exotic tone painting of Miroirs (Reflections) leads to the question "Who was the extraordinary person who created this?" Here are indispensable insights into the literary origins of Gaspard de la nuit, the derivation of the water imagery in Jeux d'eau and the sensuous delights of Miroirs. The chapter on Valses nobles et sentimentales illuminates Ravel's meticulously controlled sense of irony. Le tombeau de Couperin is related to the impact of the First World War on his psyche and to the refuge he sought in the civilizing values of the age of Watteau and Couperin. Intimate and perceptive, Reflections is inescapably about the life of Maurice Ravel - reflections, by way of the piano music, on an exceptionally private but immensely attractive man.

Art in Europe: Museums and Masterworks


Victoria Charles - 2012
    Additionally, it highlights the various cultural policies and points of view concerning the promotion of artistic heritage in Europe. The most emblematic European museums are presented along with some well-kept and fascinating secrets, such as in Nicosia of Cyprus and Sofia in Bulgaria.

The French Kitchen Cookbook (Love Food)


Parragon Books - 2012
    

Marie Antoinette (World History): Controversial Queen of France


Heather E. Schwartz - 2012
    Readers will learn about her arranged marriage to King Louis XVI, life at the Palace of Versailles, what she did to become such a controversial queen, and the royal family's stay at the Tuileries Palace. The detailed images, illustrations, interesting facts, and supportive text work in conjunction with the accessible glossary and index to give readers the tools they need to better understand the content and vocabulary. This book also includes an in-class writing activity to further students' understanding of Marie Antoinette's life.

Clémentine's Uncommon Scents


Jocelyne Lebon - 2012
    Yet when it is discovered that the six-year old has in fact the nose of a bloodhound, it soon converts her into a force to be reckoned with in the small hamlet where she is growing up. Is she angel or beast? Her bizarre attribute garners her praise but also subjects her to taunts and insults, until a searing humiliation brings her ambivalence to a tipping point, and upon reaching puberty she makes a decision which will change the course of her life by a few latitudes. How she handles and resolves her strong ambivalence is developed in this olfactory odyssey, a sensuous tale with comedy, drama, and romance, drenched in fragrant magic realism.

The Book of Beginnings


François Jullien - 2012
    In this fascinating summation of his work, he takes an original approach to the conundrum of cross-cultural understanding.   Jullien considers just three sentences in their original languages. Each is the first sentence of a seminal text: the Bible in Hebrew, Hesiod’s Theogony in Greek, and the Yijing (I Ching) in Chinese. By dismantling these sentences, the author reveals the workings of each language and the ways of thought in which they are inscribed. He traces the hidden choices made by European reason and assumptions, discovering among other things what is not thought about. Through the lens of the Chinese language, Jullien offers, as always, a new and surprising view of our own Western culture.

Frédéric Malle: On Perfume Making


Frédéric Malle - 2012
    His grandfather was Serge Heftler, founder of Dior Parfums. In 2000 he started his own label, the Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle. He describes his role as that of a publisher. When developing a fragrance, he invites the best contemporary perfumers and gives them the greatest possible freedom, an unlimited selection of ingredients and as much time as needed to compose a scent without compromise. So far Pierre Bourdon, Jean-Claude Ellena, Edouard Fléchier, Olivia Giacobetti, Dominique Ropion, Maurice Roucel, Edmond Roudnitska, Michel Roudnitska and Ralf Schwieger have accepted his invitation. This book tells the sensitive and wonderful tale of these collaborations and describes the complexities of creating a fragrance.Konstantin Kakanias was born in 1961 in Athens. At age 22 he began working as an illustrator for Vogue, then created textile designs for Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix. His drawings have been featured in The New York Times and Vanity Fair. He has illustrated several books and in 2002 his book Mrs. Tependris: The Contemporary Years was published. He lives and works as an artist in Los Angeles and exhibits all over the world.

73 Color Paintings of Louise Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun (Élisabeth Vigée) - French Rococo Portrait Painter (April 16, 1755 - March 30, 1842)


Jacek Michalak - 2012
    Louise Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun book includes 73 high quality reproductions of his greatest masterpieces with title and date.

The Frankenstein of 1790 and Other Lost Chapters from Revolutionary France


Julia V. Douthwaite - 2012
    In this book, Julia V. Douthwaite explores how the works within this enormous corpus announced the new shapes of literature to come and reveals that vestiges of these stories can be found in novels by the likes of Mary Shelley, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Honoré de Balzac, Charles Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, and L. Frank Baum. Deploying political history, archival research, and textual analysis with eye-opening results, Douthwaite focuses on five major events between 1789 and 1794—first in newspapers, then in fiction—and shows how the symbolic stories generated by Louis XVI, Robespierre, the market women who stormed Versailles, and others were transformed into new tales with ongoing appeal. She uncovers a 1790 story of an automaton-builder named Frankénsteïn, links Baum to the suffrage campaign going back to 1789, and discovers a royalist anthem’s power to undo Balzac’s Père Goriot. Bringing to light the missing links between the ancien régime and modernity, The Frankenstein of 1790 and Other Lost Chapters from Revolutionary France is an ambitious account of a remarkable politico-literary moment and its aftermath.

Writing Beckett's Letters


George Craig - 2012
    In this cahier he opens that experience, describing the challenges as well as the rewards, which can go from the difficulty of deciphering Beckett’s notoriously difficult handwriting to finding an English equivalent for one of Beckett’s numerous verbal jokes. This cahier offers an insight into the ‘task of the translator’ – when the writer being translated was himself a master translator.

A Companion to the French Revolution


Peter McPhee - 2012
    Examines the origins, development and impact of the French Revolution Features original contributions from leading historians, including six essays translated from French.

THE FRENCH ARMY OF THE VICTORY (Officers and Soldiers Of...)


André Jouineau - 2012
    

Yde Et Olive


Jesse Russell - 2012
    It is a sequel to Huon de Bordeaux and follows the Chanson d'Esclarmonde, the story of Huon's wife, and Clarisse et Florent, the story of Yde's parents, in the cycle. It is perhaps the earliest Old French adaptation of the myth of Iphis. This myth is found in Ovid's Metamorphoses, but other ancient Indian sources and no sources at all have also been suggested for the chanson.Yde et Olive is a relatively unstudied chanson, with only one critically edited published text, Max Schweigel's from 1889, and one unpublished edition from a 1977 dissertation by Barbara Anne Brewka at Vanderbilt University.

Greatest Works of Alexandre Dumas


Alexandre Dumas - 2012
    The Count of Monte Cristo (1846), The Three Musketeers (1844), Twenty Years After (1845), Ten Years Later (1847) & The Man in the Iron Mask (1847)