A complete history of France up until the end of WW2. It's not particularly in-depth coverage, especially when you get to the world wars, but there arA complete history of France up until the end of WW2. It's not particularly in-depth coverage, especially when you get to the world wars, but there are certainly plenty of other books for that. For a basic overview, it's perfectly readable, almost chatty. ...more
Wouldn't I have loved to see this exhibit. Well the book is the next best thing. Very informative and beautifully put together.Wouldn't I have loved to see this exhibit. Well the book is the next best thing. Very informative and beautifully put together....more
This probably deserved more stars, it's very easy to read. If this was one's first foray into the story of Louie XVI and Marie Antoinette it would be This probably deserved more stars, it's very easy to read. If this was one's first foray into the story of Louie XVI and Marie Antoinette it would be a good starting point, but otherwise the first half at least of the book is a recap. Which is also fine, except that story disturbs me a lot and as my nerves are fragile at the moment it wasn't what I was hankering to read. There is fabulous research here about the many many Louis XVII pretenders, but just as with Anna Anderson who claimed to be Anastasia Romanov, she wasn't! They weren't! So I don't know how much time I want to donate to them. There is also a lot of technical DNA stuff which you can skip, sssh, just don't tell anyone. The final story of the heart is indeed, what I read this book for, so that made it worthwhile overall....more
DNF for now. I was doing fine with this throughout Napoleon's childhood, but now that we are into battle after battle after battle I am finding it rouDNF for now. I was doing fine with this throughout Napoleon's childhood, but now that we are into battle after battle after battle I am finding it rough going as I have limited hooks to hang this info on........more
Interesting saga of the author's pursuit of WWI sites in France. I wish he could go back and retrace his steps and film it all. Fascinating how you c Interesting saga of the author's pursuit of WWI sites in France. I wish he could go back and retrace his steps and film it all. Fascinating how you can still go back and find yourself a live shell in the ground with barely any effort. One hundred years and another war notwithstanding. His passion for this subject is palpable. As example, after seeing graffiti carved by American soldiers sheltering in a chalk mine, he researched every single one and found out what became of them. ...more
This was a slightly dry book that I didn't really need to read because I have already read most of what's here somewhere else. And I hate art books thThis was a slightly dry book that I didn't really need to read because I have already read most of what's here somewhere else. And I hate art books that do not provide an illustration but instead DESCRIBE a painting in detail to you. I can go look it up on the Internet if you are too cheap to reproduce it, thank you, don't DESCRIBE it to me. But this does get a point for not sloughing off Leon Koella but actually discussing the issue. I don't recall reading before that an illegitimate child in France could not be legitimized if it's parent was married to someone else at the time of conception. So if Leon was actually Manet's father's child, as some believe, then he could not have ever legitimized him. Which makes the most sense out that situation. I really hate it when authors state as fact something that is not known , and how many times have I read that Leon was Manet's son, period, a factual statement, when they may very well have actually been brothers....more
I expected to like this more than I did, it sounded right up my alley. And it was okay, hence the rating. Mainly it was just too long. It would have mI expected to like this more than I did, it sounded right up my alley. And it was okay, hence the rating. Mainly it was just too long. It would have made a great article in a history magazine. But there was too much technical stuff about font creation,etc., too much detail about the author herself. And then she tries way too hard to create dramatic suspense at the prospect of uncovering information about people who were alive in the 1940s. If it was the 1540s, sure, but it just wasn't that long ago and I would expect that the information would be available if anyone looked long and hard enough. So I wasn't blown away with wonderment like I was obviously supposed to be. Like the MYSTERY of HOW ON EARTH letters written in France ended up in antique store in MINNESOTA which is like, way far away from France! Answer: the seller bought them in France. (Hope that wasn't too big a spoiler.)...more
Beautiful book, excellent reproductions and photographs. Each chapter is about a different person, couple or group of Americans in Paris during the 19Beautiful book, excellent reproductions and photographs. Each chapter is about a different person, couple or group of Americans in Paris during the 1920s...The Fitzgeralds, Gerald and Sara Murphy, Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter, etc. Enjoyed. ...more
Oooooh what a gorgeous book. Finally gave in and bought it. Lavish illustrations of everything Marie Antoinette-y. Text is pretty basic, but enjoyableOooooh what a gorgeous book. Finally gave in and bought it. Lavish illustrations of everything Marie Antoinette-y. Text is pretty basic, but enjoyable. Most books of this ilk would be of the giant coffee table type that weigh 40 lbs and cost $85. I like that this is little and manageable. Adds to its cuteness. ...more
This was in the juvie section of the library, and provided me what I needed...which was a short, concise history. Didn't seem particularly geared to yThis was in the juvie section of the library, and provided me what I needed...which was a short, concise history. Didn't seem particularly geared to young readers, but suited my purpose fine....more
This covers some of the same ground as "The Judgement of Paris" but much less of it. It tends to leap from subject to subject. First is Manet and his This covers some of the same ground as "The Judgement of Paris" but much less of it. It tends to leap from subject to subject. First is Manet and his painting Olympia, then we veer over to Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie then to Berthe Morisot then Jacques Offenbach then to a doctor who treated prostitutes, back to Manet, back to the Empress although that chapter is mostly about someone else....there is a "lack of cohesion" as they say on Project Runway. But it's easy to read and there is a lot of interesting information here. Not for scholars, but it was entertaining enough....more
Not really so "shocking" account of the School of Paris artists in the first half of the 20th century. The focus mostly on Chaim Soutine and Marc ChagNot really so "shocking" account of the School of Paris artists in the first half of the 20th century. The focus mostly on Chaim Soutine and Marc Chagall. It's quite short, I guess I felt more like I had read a long magazine article than a book. I can't quite put my finger on what seemed sort of scattershot about this..maybe the focus turned away from the artists to world events a little too often?...more
I was going to give this four stars but I added one for the good quality, color illustrations. Such a treat to read a history/art book and not have toI was going to give this four stars but I added one for the good quality, color illustrations. Such a treat to read a history/art book and not have to keep running to another book or the Internet to see what they are talking about. (Even if you already know, it's nice to have the refreshing reference.) This book is a bit of a hodgepodge, we follow several notable Americans and the story of their relationship with Paris in the last 70 or so years of the 19th century. Some will interest one reader more than other, of course, but McCullough writes in such an easygoing style if you weren't so keen on one episode, just hang on, we'll be coming up to a new fella in a minute. But this wasn't a problem so much for me, I was more often sad to see them go. ...more
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