An Environmental History of France: Making the Landscape, 1770-2020

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Description

The French countryside is as beloved by the many millions of tourists who visit it each year as it is of French people themselves. But it has not always looked like it does today. An Environmental History of France instead presents the countryside in which people live and work and through which they travel as a human creation across 250 years of economic and cultural change, war and revolution. It is a book about the making of the French landscape and an engrossing story linking human geography, history, agriculture and culture. Showing an awareness of the origins and nature of current ecological and social challenges, Peter McPhee uses a blend of environmental and cultural approaches to paint a vivid picture of rural Frances modern history. From the aristocratic control of agrarian resources in the 1770s, to widespread mechanisation in the 19th century, through to the impact of the World Wars and an intriguing discussion about the uncertain future of French rural communities, McPhee provides a nuanced, detailed and absorbing account of a distinctive version of France that is essential to the countrys identity.

Reviews

In this masterful overview of history and the French landscape, Peter McPhee reveals the complex interconnections between nature, agriculture, political events, and climate change. It is a powerful illustration of the pressing need for governments to intervene to protect both the natural landscape and the environment. - Philip Dwyer, Professor, University of Newcastle, Australia
Magisterial in scope and insight, An Environmental History of France is a thrilling successor to Fernand Braudel's illustrious Identity of France. The culmination of a long career spent exploring France's history from the ground up, the book presents the country's most dramatic moments of ecological change through Prof. McPhees signature blend of engaging detail and lucid analysis. * Kieko Matteson, Associate Professor, University of Hawai'i, USA *
'This original book enables us to see the landscape of France with new eyes, revealing its hidden history. McPhee shows us how past mingles with present to shape the French countryside.' * Marisa Linton, Professor Emerita in History, Kingston University, UK *

Author Bio

Peter McPhee is Honorary Professorial Fellow at The University of Melbourne, Australia. He has published widely on the history of modern France, including: A Social History of France 1789-1914 (2004); Robespierre: a Revolutionary Life (2012); and Liberty or Death: The French Revolution 1789-1799 (2016). Professor McPhee was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 1997 and a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia in 2003. Earlier that year he had received the Centenary Medal for services to Australian education. In 2012, McPhee was made a Member of the Order of Australia.