{"product_id":"the-discovery-of-france-a-historical-geography-9780393333640","title":"The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography","description":"\u003cp\u003eA narrative of exploration--full of strange landscapes and even stranger inhabitants--that explains the enduring fascination of France. While Gustave Eiffel was changing the skyline of Paris, large parts of France were still terra incognita. Even in the age of railways and newspapers, France was a land of ancient tribal divisions, prehistoric communication networks, and pre-Christian beliefs. French itself was a minority language.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGraham Robb describes that unknown world in arresting narrative detail. He recounts the epic journeys of mapmakers, scientists, soldiers, administrators, and intrepid tourists, of itinerant workers, pilgrims, and herdsmen with their millions of migratory domestic animals. We learn how France was explored, charted, and colonized, and how the imperial influence of Paris was gradually extended throughout a kingdom of isolated towns and villages.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe Discovery of France\u003c\/em\u003e explains how the modern nation came to be and how poorly understood that nation still is today. Above all, it shows how much of France--past and present--remains to be discovered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e Notable Book, \u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e Best Book, \u003cem\u003eSlate\u003c\/em\u003e Best Book, and \u003cem\u003eBooklist\u003c\/em\u003e Editor's Choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRobb, Graham:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cstrong\u003eGraham Robb\u003c\/strong\u003e is the author of three prize-winning biographies, each selected as \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e Best Books. His most recent works, \u003cem\u003eThe Discovery of Middle Earth\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eParisians\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eThe Discovery of France\u003c\/em\u003e have earned several awards. He lives on the Anglo-Scottish border.","brand":"W. W. Norton \u0026 Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50491713978642,"sku":"9780393333640","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_5306122e-9945-4dc6-b15c-e3903fb49ca1.jpg?v=1730551690","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-discovery-of-france-a-historical-geography-9780393333640","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}