France Books

I have never been there, but through samplings such as this treasure of a book, I have seen on print what I most want to see: Provence! This "gift" presents the reader with the best views of interiors that I am aware of. I have combed my library and bookstores for views of Provence for almost forever. This book almost makes me cry, I long to see it so! Until I do, this sumptuous look at this magical region is availble in this outstanding book. I am SO glad I have my copy!

In this rich photographic essay of interiors in Provence, Lovatt-Smith captures the design, style, essence, texture, life and breath of this magical location and its occupant's beautiful interiors.

This book is a gorgeously photographed journey into the homes of wealthy and/or very stylish residents of Provence. Not a book of typical 'French Country Interiors', it covers a wide range of styles from super modern to 17th century grandeur, from 'to the manor born', to gypsy caravans (stunning). As with all things French I adore the way they so gracefully combine the old and the new. These are for the most part not homes that were 'designed', but instead homes that 'grew' with thier owners over time. This book is one of a series of books by this publisher/editor team and they are all wonderful. I have this one, the book on Indian Interiors, the book on Moroccan Interiors (my favorite) and the one on Tuscan Interiors. Each of these books is pure quality. The photography, the variety of well chosen homes, the layout and design of the books, including paper quality, binding etc. is superb. There isn't one aspect of any of these books, including this one, that is run-of-the-mill or poorly conceived. If you are interested in Provencial style, creative interiors, use of colour and texture, and French Culture, you will adore this book. It is without a doubt the best book on French Interiors that I have found.

Excellent cookbook! My father is Alsacian and approved my attempts at Alsacian cooking.

I recently went to a great French bistro and had such an enjoyable experience, that I was hoping to replicate some of the delicious, but somewhat unorthodox, dishes. And this cookbook was perfect; it is filled with savory and hard-to-find recipes. I've only tried a few of them at this point, but found them all to be easy to follow. Plus the results are delicious! A great addition to any kitchen.

I've been looking for a cookbook from this particular region for a long time,and this one is a winner! The recipes are delicious and easy to follow. The stories about Alsace are entertaining and give the reader a feeling of this little known region in France. This beautiful book can go on the coffee table or in the kitchen.

Copies of this book are on sale in the gift shop at the Palace of Versailles. That's saying something for a book published, in English, in 1961. I figured there must be a reason and I was right. This fascinating page-turner is equal parts social history, shadowy mystery, and riveting tale of intrigue. The story is told primarily through masterfully translated excerpts from contemporary source materials--diaries, memoirs, autobiographies. In all honesty I rarely read books this long anymore, but this did not seem long at all. Finally, this title will expand your vocabulary--I guess readers were familiar with more words in 1961!

The Queen's Necklace is a remarkable book. As an avid reader of French Revolutionary history, I was initially daunted by its 500+ pages, but the style of writing with it's excerpts from period memoirs, made it eminently readable. I found myself unable to stop reading. The use of the memoirs, particularly when they contradict each other so strongly, presents the reader with the opportunity to weigh each version and use them to "read between the lines" to obtain the story - or in some cases, "a" story - by the memoirs' authors themselves.

It was a delightful read with virtually no connection to the movie of the same name. What a wasted opportunity that was! The real story is the stuff of movie making, had the writer and producer used this book, the film might have been a hit. Sophia Coppola, with her "Marie Antoinette" film could have benefitted from this book as it accurately presents Marie Antoinette at a time when her fate had already been decided in the minds of the public by libelous pamphleteers and the actions of such self-interested, self-involved charlatans as Madame La Motte-Valois, the central character in this story.

I was fortunate to be able to see the San Francisco Legion of Honor exhibit on Marie Antoinette and the Grand Trianon as I was reading this book. It served to reinforce what a great book this is.

In 1785 The Queen's Necklace scandal broke over France. Queen Marie Antoinette was alleged to have bought a diamond necklace worth over 1.6 million franks and refused to pay for it, and had Cardinal Prince Rohan, a long time courtier out of favour, arrested for it along with his accomplices the Countess de la Motte-Valois and the famous mystic Count Cagliostro.

This book is a series of fascinating first person accounts of how the necklace swindle occurred and the trial that followed it. Most of the people involved in the scandal wrote their memoirs and virtually all the court related documentation is still available in France in archives. This book is a compilation of these memoirs and legal statements made by all the parties involved in this crime which opened the monarchy and France to the fury of the revolution.

The author does not impose her own interpretation of the events on the reader, but does provide explanations to the backgrounds of the people involved and the social and political niceties of the time that explain why people acted as they did.

This book is a lively account of this important French scandal that, because of the first person accounts, reads like a novel. If the story wasn't true it would be hard to credit such a cast of interesting characters, with their extravagant and wildly different backgrounds, coming together like this to play a crucial role in the downfall of the French Monarchy. Its also very interesting to compare this book to what is portrayed in the movie of the same name. There are a number of very significant differences!

This book describes a new way of thinking about getting involved in the community and describes new techniques for achieving better relationships in employment, government, community. As a teacher I very much appreciate the book and will bring what I learn into the classroom.

This is an urgent, important message for anyone who seeks change in the way their community works or the atmosphere, which exists in their hometown. In any community where change is occurring, leaders need to emerge willing to champion for the best use of resources and create an atmosphere of cooperation among diverse entities. This work assists in that process.

"Quickening of America" is a terrific book which explains the whats and the how-tos of bringing about social change through Living Democracy.

Living Democracy is probably the best way to bring about changes in communities all over the world. "Quickening" gives examples of how successful agencies brought about reforms and the methods they used, which could be replicated by any reform-minded individual or group.

"Quickening" is a must-read for any person or group who wants to bring about change.

Our children love this. I love this. Gorgeous illustrations, wonderful story, great life lessons ... what more can I say? Appealing to both boys and s.

My grandmother had the Queen Crosspatch/ Queen Silverbell storis at her home and I dearly loved Racketty Packetty House as a child. It's a timeless story, beautifully told by Frances Hodgeson Burnett, and now I'm reading it with my own daughter.


I have seen the new edition, and the illustrations are pretty. However, they do not compare to the original breathtaking illustrations by Harrison Cady, a turn of the century master of children's illustrations.

This is really the second in a series of 4 stories, and I wonder why the others have not been re-issued. The premise is that the fairy queen "Queen Silverbell" has lost her "temper". This is actually a tiny elf that should live inside a silver cage dangling from a belt. It seems that too many children do not believe in fairies- an upsetting situation for a fairy queen. When she got angry, the cage burst open, and she lost her temper- who then transformed to a black imp and ran away. A sad state for a fairy queen, and now she is known as Queen Crosspatch, or sometimes Queen Silverbell-patch.

To regain her temper, the Fairy queen has a plan to tell 4 stories to convince children of the existence of fairies and the good works they do. The first story is How Winnie hatched the Little Rooks, the next is the Racketty Packetty house, the third is The Spring Cleaning (a fabulous tale of spring and garden fairies) and the last is The Cozy Lion.

I truly hope that interest in Racketty Packetty House will eventually lead to the reintroduction of the other stories too.

Read it, and enjoy the best of children's literature. If you love it, let the publisher know that this is only a fragment of the real series.

I liked the message that nothing is disposable. When a child is given a new toy, she almost discards the used one, but it is not willing to give up.

1st grader can almost read it. Very English vocabulary!

An excellent book. Mr. Rain gives great insights into what it takes to work on the staff of a General Officer- In this case Marine Corps General Ray Robinson. Some great anecdotes about Robinson, a Marine who served throughout WW2 in quite a few of the major Marine Campaigns of that war.

Great book! This book gives wonderful insight into what it was like going to war in the Pacific and fighting on Iwo Jima. The author gives a candid account of the events he went through preparing and fighting in WWII.

Enjoyed the book!! Great reading for the veteran. A must read for
students who want an insight as to what really happened in WWII and the bravery of our American soldiers. An honest account of one soldier's story of Iwo Jima.

beguiling trip in unfamiliar territory, great food and illustrations

Bought this book as a gift for my partner, as we now live in france thought we should try some local specialities, excellent book, easy to follow instructions, ingredients that are not difficult to find even if you dont live in france. Simple and complex dishes, Food for everyone

Rick Stein has provided us with another wonderful book to drool over. Not only does this have "fancy" dishes but also some of the classic peasant dishes as well. I loved my copy so much that I got it for a Christmas present for a friend who loves cooking as much as I do.

Annie Hawes' stories of her life in Italy are by the far the most down-to-earth and real and interesting of any that I've ever read. If you've never encounted Hawes, please have a look at "Extra Virgin" and work your way over here. Hawes doesn't patronize the people that she writes about, she loves and understands them, and, with time, the reader does too. She is by far the best guide to the real Italy and real Italians that I have encountered. And she's darn funny!

As a follow up to her first book Extra Virgin which I found delightful, i was even more entertained by Ripe for the Picking.Ilaughed myself to tears in parts. I was impressed by her descriptions of the italian people she had introduced to us in her first book and allowed the reader to get to know them intimantly.It is by far much more informative about the people in these villages than the other books around, such as Under the Tuscan Sun, which focuses more on the authors lifestyle than on the people around her.Hope to get another follow up book from this author soon.

Ms. Hawes tells an excellent story. I'm raring to start on her third book but it's not available from amazon.com in the US! Arrgh! This second book is indeed touching in more than a couple of places, and her subtle writing style conveys far more than the word count would have you imagine. Her writing reminds me of a light-hearted and slightly Puckish Joan Didion. The combination of her English roots and her Italian home are irresistable... highly recommended!

btw -- don't be surprised when, after reading this book, you find yourself enjoying good olive oil, wine and bread and planting fruit trees and food crops in your garden... the book is thoroughly inspiring.

Admission: Had this book not been in a Barnes & Noble discount bin I probably would not have purchased it. Had I not, I would have missed a tome that in the words of those MasterCard gurus is `priceless.'

I had expected to use it as a reference, one where I could dip in and out of. Instead, I have read almost every one of the 96 speeches in this excellent work. Gottheimer has set the book out in chronological order, covering not just African-American civil rights, but also Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, the suffragette movement, gays and lesbians.
Rather than taking it in this chronological order, I chose to read it by subject so I read all black civil rights speeches as one block. It has been an eye-opening, hugely instructive history lesson. And that highlights one of the wonders of this book.

It is not just a book of speeches. It is a history book. One of the many lessons I learned: While Martin Luther King can credibly lay claim to being the greatest orator of the civil rights movement, he most assuredly was not the only great speaker.

The anger, the power, the pain, the passion of many black speakers flows aggressively and often poignantly through these pages. Never before, had I appreciated so well, the suffering of the "negro" community, a suffering was not just physical, but also mental. The evil of slavery for many was greater because the family unit was regularly broken up and abused, with the young black girl often never more than a sex slave for her white master.

I never knew:
That the first African American Governor, Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback took office, even if in a pro tempore role in December 1872 for the state of Louisiana.
That the Civil Rights act of 1875 granted all citizens, regardless of color, full access to public facilities and accommodation. Mind you it appears the Jim Crow South did not know it either!
That the introduction of the sex discrimination amendment into the 1964 Civil Rights Act happened only because Congressman Howard Smith introduced it, believing that this amendment would scupper the whole Civil Rights bill. Gosh, who would have thought politicians could be so devious?

I have often thought that much of Jesse Jackson's speechmaking is clich?d but some of his phrasing and imagery when he spoke at the 1984 Democratic National Convention is absolutely superb.

"My constituency is the desperate, the damned, the disinherited, the disrespected, and the despised."

Or

"America is not like a blanket - one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt - many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread. The white, the Hispanic, the black, the Arab, the Jew, the woman, the native American, the small farmer, the businessperson, the environmentalist, the peace activist, the young, the old, the lesbian, the gay and the disabled make up the American quilt."

Gottheimer does not present Jackson's speech to the 1988 Democratic Convention where he used similar imagery. Good communicators know what works and as Martin Luther King showed often, are not afraid to repeat strong phrases in many different speeches. In '88, Jackson said,
"America is not a blanket woven from one thread, one color, one cloth. When I was a child growing up in Greenville, South Carolina and grandmama could not afford a blanket, she didn't complain and we did not freeze. Instead she took pieces of old cloth -- patches, wool, silk, gabardine, crockersack -- only patches, barely good enough to wipe off your shoes with. But they didn't stay that way very long. With sturdy hands and a strong cord, she sewed them together into a quilt, a thing of beauty and power and culture. Now, Democrats, we must build such a quilt."

One of the compelling aspects of the book is how history's so called "second-class citizens" - Blacks, Women, Chinese-Americans, Gays, Hispanics were able to overcome similar prejudice to build better futures for themselves. No one should believe that complete success has been achieved.

Bill Clinton's speech to African-American ministers at the Church of God of Christ, in Memphis in 1993 rebukes their community for in a sense swapping one form of tyranny for another. He imagined what Dr. Martin Luther King might say if he were to return. King might have said "I did not live and die to see 13-year-old boys get automatic weapons and gun down 9-year-olds just for the kick of it. I did not live and die to see young people destroy their own lives with drugs and then build fortunes destroying the lives of others. That is not what I came here to do."

Gottheimer (who was a Clinton speechwriter) indicated that Clinton did this speech almost extemporaneously, relying on some hand written notes. If so, kudos to a great communicator who by the way writes the foreword to Ripples of Hope. Kudos also to Gottheimer for putting this great edition together. I am boring people telling them how good it is.

This compilation is much more than just a desk reference for quotes ? it?s a thoroughly readable history of the civil rights movement in its leaders' own words. Ripples of Hope is a trove filled with speeches whose famous lines we?ve all heard but probably never bothered to read in their entirety, as well as several speeches that have been restored from relative obscurity. It elevates the speech from an archive to a new form ? an accessible, living source meant to be read, reflected upon, and drawn from as a source of motivation.

This book fills a stunning gap -- I've never seen another collection dedicated to the civil rights speeches that have played such a crucial role in American history. It includes all the famous speeches (I Have a Dream, etc.), but it also covers activists most of us haven't heard of, from movements most civil rights histories ignore. Each speech is accompanied by an introduction with just enough information to set the scene and put the speech in the context of its own and the other movements, but not so much that it gets in the way of the speeches themselves. Anyone who cares about how America's many peoples live together -- and how we wish they would -- must have this book on their shelf.

You get the sense that Doris Lehman has spent a substantial amount of time in the Riviera and writes from personal experience. This book is very readable and the illustrations, by her daughter, Amy, are delightful. I have never visited the Riviera but, I sometimes like to read travel books so I can vicariously visit certain destinations. I definitely got the vicarious experience from this well written travel guide. She covers a lot of territory and I feel that Lehman's style compares very favorably with larger travel book operations such as Frommer and Foder. In fact, she has a personal touch that makes her book preferable. I highly recommend this book.

The Riviera off-season and on was a very helpful source of information for my vacation to the Riviera. I used it both for hotels and restaurants and was not disappointed once. I loved the boxed in stories and found the illustrations very charming. I recommend this book for anyone going to the Riviera.

Well presented and warmly researched broadly based survey; hand-drawn illustrations are delightful and wonderfully evocative. Perfect volume from which to plan itinerary from home, or to make trip adjustments on the road.