France Books

As a former resident of Paris(and moving back in September for college)I thought I had read every book there was on the City of Light, so I was pleasantly suprised to come upon this one which was very informative and well written. Many of the tips given were ideas I had never even considered. Examples of this would be having tea at the Ritz Hotel, and calling the fashion houses for invitations to their shows. Also, I found many places that I added to my address book and am eager to peruse in the future. This is the perfect book to take with you on the flight over and to refer to for the duration of your trip. A great find at a very reasonable price. Vive la France!

You always wonder as you read guide books how much the bar owner or hotel proprietor knew about the writer -- did they guess the guest was covering travel? I don't really trust most of the guides on food and hotels. This book is a delightful solution to that dilemma.

Everybody knows the Georges V and the Bristol can pamper you if they want to or that the dry martini's at the Ritz bar remain flawless.

Caroline O'Connell's deftly written guide tips its hat to obvious elegance but it's equally on target with swell places whose tariff does not require you to squander a fortune.

Her taste is flawless and she writes for those who travel in style. You can bank her recommendations. Concise, small enough to pack and light enough to carry, we've found it by far the best and most useful guide to Paris. No book has it all, but this has a lot and what it has is more than worthwhile. It's really quite well done and not to be missed.

This book is a definite must for any woman visiting Paris! It will help one experience that "joie de vivre" that only Paris can offer. It's a great guide to understanding and adapting to traveling in the city, further, it's a wonderful guide to meeting that man of your dreams in the most "romantic city in the world." Ms O'Connell should write a sequel on getting married in Paris!

Young Snowflower lives with her grandmother, Dame Frostyface, in a little cottage at the edge of a forest. The two are very poor, and own only a cat, two hens, a bed of dried grass, and one good piece of furniture: "a great armchair with wheels on its feet, a black velvet cushion, and many curious carvings of flowers and fawns on its dark oaken back."

One day, Dame Frostyface leaves to visit her aunt, and asks Snowflower to remain behind. She tells the girl that the fancy armchair was made by a cunning fairy, and that it is enchanted. If Snowflower should feel lonely, she should lay her head gently on the cushion of the armchair and say, "Chair of my grandmother, tell me a story. Should Snowflower have the occasion to travel, she should sit in the chair and say, "Chair of my grandmother, take me such a way."

After an interval of solitude, Snowflower's food stores are nearly depleted, so she decides to travel in the armchair along the same path her grandmother took. While journeying, she hears that King Winwealth plans to give a seven day feast to celebrate the birth of his only daughter, Princess Greedalind. Snowflower, who is quite hungry, wishes to share in the feast, and travels to the palace in the enchanted armchair.

Since the disappearance of his brother, Prince Wisewit, King Winwealth has been an unhappy ruler, especially since his marriage to the covetous and disagreeable Queen Wantall and the birth of their unpleasant child. The King's low spirits prompt his favorite page to suggest that Snowflower's chair might provide some diversion, so she and the chair are summoned to the banquet each evening to entertain the king.

Each evening, the chair tells a different story until a total of seven stories are told: "The Christmas Cuckoo", "The Lords of the White and Grey Castles", "The Greedy Shepard", "The Story of Fairyfoot", "The Story of Childe Charity", "Sour and Civil", and "The Story of Merrymind". As each consecutive evening passes, the king's depression lifts and Snowflower's situation improves, until all of the stories end happily together.

This wonderful collection of creative and pleasing stories will entertain fairytale enthusiasts of all ages.

Frances Browne, the author of this enchanting and original collection of fairy tales lived between 1816 and 1879. She was blinded by smallpox when she was a baby and so all of the vivid descriptions in this charming book are from her own memory of the tales that she heard as a child and from her colorful imagination. In 1904 Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote an introduction for a new edition of the book because as a little child she had won a copy of it as a prize for good behavior in school. It became her favorite book but was lost to her over the years. She searched high and low for it and it eventually surfaced in Boston and again in a second hand shop in London. This edition contains the introduction by Burnett that is certainly an added treat. It is brilliantly illustrated by Switzerland's Gisele Rime with her characteristic bright colors and whimsical decorative borders. Unlike other collections of fairy tales these are completely original and bring us new characters and plots with gentle moral lessons. The fame of Frances Browne may not approach the Grimms or Andersen but the beauty and cleverness of her tales will enchant and delight you just the same. Curl up in Granny's wonderful chair, snuggle close and follow the stories of Fairyfoot and Childe Charity, Prince Wisewit and Merry Mind. Meet the Lords of the White and Grey Castles. This is a grand experience not just a good book.

Do you remember visiting Grandma as a child? Perhaps snuggling into her favorite chair when you were too tired to possibly do anything else? Do you recall the comfort, the smell, the feel, the total release of 'Grandma's' chair? This was one my of favorite 'escape' books as a child. I would curl up in 'Granny's Wonderful Chair' and be transported to many a wonderous place. I have searched for many years for this title, and was so excited to see it unearthed for republishing! We will be reading it aloud as a family now. Granny's Wonderful Chair is a great addition not only to your library, but to you and your children's memory's as well!

I bought this book after reading "...Brigadier Gerard," by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which was based upon the life of this
man, Baron de Marbot. I'll have you know that I found it every bit as entertaining and fascinating as the "...Brigadier Gerard" book...even moreso for knowing that this fellow de Marbot really existed. When I read "...Brigadier Gerard," I was thinking how amazing some of the adventures were, or how fortunate he had been in this situation or in that one, but when I read about de Marbot, and of his incredible exploits, I was truly mesmerized. The coincidences..the simple twists of fate, the turns of fortune, the moments of chance...Hard to believe that this fellow experienced such awesome adventures... And all the while, amidst these adventures, we are kept abreast of the latest military tactics, the conditions of the land, the townsfolk and the soldiers, of all ranks during a period that seemed not to rest from battle... I tell you it is just a breathtaking piece of work (and for a female to say that is something indeed! )

When I read this book I swear it felt so real that I could easily imagine the sounds of voices or of artillery fire, or of horses hooves pounding or sabres clashing...Even scents came alive..The scent of a grassy knoll, or of a smoldering fire, or even that of the decaying flesh of men and animals...I could see the uniforms becoming more and mroe soiled and tattered with wear and with time...I could see troops moving silently through shallow streams in the dead of night; the moonlight spread across the ground like a sheet...I could see men's breaths when the air turned cold, and I could feel their struggle within when they knew that the end was near, but dared to keep the field.

This book simply pulls you in and doesn't let go. But that is quite alright. You won't WANT it to let go. It is every bit as much of a page-turner as "...Brigadier Gerard" was, and it gave me a sense of history that I failed to find in any of the books
I studied in college. Marbot so intimately describes his friends, enemies, family, and fellow soldiers, that they became not only real to me, but almost familiar to me.

Additionally, It did me well to remember a time when battles were fought in a much different manner than they are today... When words like Honor and Integrity and Duty and Loyalty were of paramount importance, and had substance,...They were not merely breath with sound.

I cannot say enough positive things about this book, and to keep at it here would be like beating a dead horse. Let me just say this: If you are ever at a point where you just can't seem to decide on which direction you would like to go in with your next good read, try this one while you are working it out... More likely than not, when you are done, you will kick yourself for not having gotten it sooner. ( And try "... Brigadier Gerard " too! I have reviewd this as well...!! )

All the history I've read about the Napoleonic Wars was a bird's eye view of grand maneuvers, but it's very difficult for a 21st century person to fathom what life must have been like in the inscrutably proper world of musket lines and lace. In this memoir, we find that the bygone culture of peasants and nobles fighting with sabers, muskets, and horses could still very much be populated by human beings not much unlike ourselves.

Marbot's memoirs consist of two components: one is his own research into the events of the war, and reads much like a normal history book. Of much greater interest to us, however, is his personal recollections and stories, which is much like meeting the man in person over a beer and having him spew his opinions and experiences to you. Unfortunately, this edition does not retain as much of this personal flavor, instead choosing to retain the drier historical stuff that can be "ascertained". This is a pity, as there is a great deal we can learn about the times from Marbot's stories and rumors, inaccurate as some may be.

The proper tone of this book masks from the reader the horrors that we read in today's memoirs, so it is left up to your imagination to grasp the full meaning of what "despair" or a "piteous sight" might refer to.

The original is much less dry and bursts with period detail, although, much like what you might hear in a bar, is more suspect in its accuracy. It was also translated by a deeply biased Englishman, who is so fierce when he "corrects" every mention of English conduct in the footnotes that you begin to wonder just how trustworthy his translation might be. Being from another century, you will also encounter fierce anti-Semitism in a grand total of about 4 of the book's 700 pages, along with a derogatory remark slur on blacks, but this is to be expected reading a book from a less PC century.

I'm a Napoleonic novice,and many things in this book are completely foreign to me, but this narrative gallops right along. This edited version makes me long for the full version. The author appears to write with both candor and a very dry sense of humor (I find myself wincing and laughing-I hope not inappropriately) about incredibly brutal battle exploits as well as about the behind-the-scenes politics. The author's sense of practicality, tempered with his sense of honor makes for a very appealing perspective on the events of the era. Further, it's truly amazing what the soldiers of that era had to deal with, just in terms of physical hardships (at least by today's standards). This book has served to seriously whet my appetite to read and to learn more about this period in history.

Doyle Fans who've read and reread all the Sherlocks should give these fun stories a go. Brig. Gerard is kind of a French Flashman: the hero of every battle (at least by his own lights) when he's not winning the hearts and charms of any beautiful woman in range. Gerard is the ultimate egoist, and we love him for it-- listening to him relating these exploits over a flagon of wine, we can forgive him for perhaps exaggerating a bit here and there....

Thanks to Doyle for creating another memorable character.

I loved reading the book so much, I keep reading it over and over again.

It is surprising how funny Conan Doyle could be sometimes. Brigadier Gerard is a wonderfully conceited, rather dim-witted but brave and generous-hearted cavalry officer in Napoleon's Army. His adventures are a delight to read.

Superbly written book with penetrating analysis-in several senses. Grigsby waxes poetic throughout this book, with stimulating metaphors and multisyllabic words gushing forth like any proper literary climax. Having thoroughly reveled in the language and interpretation of her work, I must admit that the sexual readings approach a nearly forced pitch by the concluding chapter. Of course, attention to the phallus is certainly necessary in a discussion of _Belley_; I even agree with the interpretation of sumptuous fabric as "vulvic" in _Cairo_ and _Chios_. That said, however, I refuse to fully buy into Grigsby's sexualizing of _Missolonghi_. Do read this book if you have the opportunity, whether you thrill to the subject or not: everyone has a good deal to learn from Grigsby if only concerning her writing, which grabs one by the shirtcollar and ruthlessly shakes for all 400 pages.

For anyone interested in colonialism and art this book is a fascinating discussion of the ways that France's imperial battles and conquests informed and affected that country's art.

The fact that the library journal's review of the book calls into question the sexual politics of french history painting demeans ITS validity. This book makes easy to understand the sophisticated racial, sexual, and art historical undercurrents that lay as a background to the 19th century. Indeed it is these subjects that hold the greatest kernel of interest to anyone interested in the art of the davidian school, it is a welcome, exciting departure from the stuffy academic reading of the neo-classical era, making relevant an group of artists that have found themselves marginalized in their legacy.

This book shows that in a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ there is really no long term pain in the death of a loved one; but the sacred and divine opportunity of completed healing, for the ones who love them. The perfect book for the Alzheimer patient and their family.

I, too, read the book from cover to cover at one sitting. It is beautifully written, filled with brutal honesty as well as overwhelming love and compassion. It also has some excellent resources and recommendations for those trying to cope with the tragedy of the disease. I couldn't recommend the book more highly.

I cannot begin to tell you how very much I enjoyed reading this book. Once I began reading,,I just couldn't put it down until I totally completed it. This book has touched me and brought out many emotions of smiles, laughter and tears and I can relate to it as a chronic caregiver.I recommend this book to everyone not only to people who are in caregiving situations for a member of their family having Alzheimers...but for all family sicknesses.

I just reviewed Volume 1, where I said the book contains a huge selection of patterns. Volume 2 focuses on patterns for evening dresses, bridal wear, sports wear, and outer wear. The chapters on accessories and trimmings contain some needlework patterns, embroidery and so on. I figure if I don't do the handwork I'll still have learned a lot about buying appropriate materials.

I bought both volumes, but they are organized so you can use them separately. Both contain the instructions for using the book and the special rulers that allow you to draft patterns to fit you. They also both have a big glossary, a bibliography, and two indexes.

Volume 2 has something really special though--a dressmaking manual. The book says it was rewritten from numerous rare original sources that are listed in the bibliography. But it's been rewritten so it doesn't read that way; you can't tell where any source begins or ends. That makes the manual a lot easier to use. And it's so long it could have been published as a book by itself. I'm glad to have it, because I've never been able to find a comprehensive sewing manual for this period. It even has corset-making instructions (the corset patterns are in Volume 1).

Both volumes are very well edited and produced. This is not a cheap printing job.

Anyone who does Old West reenactment or Victorian teas would love these books!

Frances Grimble shares her meticulous vision with us once again. A great two book series full of facinating information and patterns galore. I cannot wait to clothe many a pretty lady using them. Not for the faint of heart. The patterns are period correct and I would advise an advanced skill level, or a great deal of patience. Always do a mock up. Remember these are patterns of the age. So start at the skin and work your way out to a glorious new costume.
Enjoy.

This is a great book, but you should know that it is not a second edition of Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 1. It is the second volume of the anthology, and a different book with all different patterns. The title is actually Fashions of the Gilded Age, Volume 2: Evening, Bridal, Sports, Outerwear, Accessories, and Dressmaking 1877-1882. It's just as good as Volume 1, none of the information is the same except the intro on how to use the patterns, and the dressmaking manual is really unique.

I heard both volumes were published but it took me awhile to find the second one on Amazon because it was mislisted. So I thought I'd warn other people.

Who is Frances and why does Abby's grandmother always call her that? Abby tells her over and over again that her name is Abby. Her grandmother has altimers desies were she forgets thing in the present and remembers thing that happened in the past. Abby has a strong determination to find out who Francis is and why she reminds her grandmother of her. Can Abby find the courage to make her grandmother tell her who Francis is. Once she finally can does she have the talent to piece it all together.

When Abigail finds out her best friend Travis is going to live next door perminently she is very exsited, but when he betrais her she feels lost. Her grandmother that has alzheimers calls her Frances and she desides to figure out who Frances is.

I like Figuring Out Frances because it's like you're living right through it with the characters until the end. It is a fantastic book for anybody to read and love! I myself couldn't put it down, it was so good! It had sort of a beat to it, like one chapter happy, the next sad, then angry, then happy and so on. Some people in my fourth grade class think that I am just a plain bookworm. I love every book and say that it is the best of all of them, but I'm not stretching the truth about this book being the best! I would give this book to anybody who likes mysterious but not-so-scary books, not that this book is scary! It was fun and interesting plus easy for me to read. Abigail (main character) seemed like a friendly girl and had a nice relationship with Travis and her grandma.

Since I started modeling wwii sceneries a couple of years ago I have been looking for books like this one. It contains the exact amount of information anyone needs to recreate an accurate scene of one of the units in the book. Even more, I am working on a project to recreate the course of action of one of the units described in the book, the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion. In this book I found pictures taken during the jump into the provence and it helped me to make a fairly accurate map of the path these paratroopers followed during the war. I never thought I'ld find a book with this kind of info anywhere. Like said in other reviews, it is well worth the money.

In his latest offering, De Trez has gotten away from showing his impressive collection, and added an incredible amount of period photos. This volume is almost 3 times the size of either of his previous ones. Tons and tons of photos, organized by unit are here. Of course, there is more of his collection but in a much nicer ratio. An excellent research tool for collectors and historians.

My father was a member of the Task Force Headquarters and made the invasion of Southern France so I bought a copy of the book for his birthday as a special surprise. He spent several days pouring through the pages looking at pictures of people he knew and place he experienced. I had no idea that this book was so thorough and informative with so many veteran's first hand accounts. As a military historian, I was overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information and images crammed into this book. I can honestly say that this book was well worth the money!

This is a beautful book with photos of gorgeous countryside. Owen Franken has a keen eye for accentuating the aesthetics in an already stunning environment.

This fabulous book absolutely transported me! The incredible text beautifully complements the photos. You can almost smell the thyme and feel the soft sea breezes... A fantastic book!

a delightful little book of pretty photos of provence.a very nice memory for those who forgot their camera and a nice source book for those who want to return to provence and see place and things one might have missed.