The Regions of France: A Reference Guide to History and Culture

(Hardback)

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This is a reference work that French teachers, students and librarians should find useful for student assignments on the regions of France. A one-stop, easy-to-use reference organized by region, it offers in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the main aspects of cultural life (including cuisine and recipes), social customs, history, politics and the economy of each region. There is no other reference like it in either English or French. It makes the 22 regions of France accessible to students and others interested in modern and contemporary France, and helps them to understand the complexities of France today and the role of the various regions in the nation's historical, political, economic and cultural development. A map of each region and a selection of photographs complement the text. The French often tell us that "Paris is not France!". This guide allows the reader to see the great physical, cultural and linguistic variety that exists in France today. The chapter on each region is organized around specific categories: regional geography; history; recent politics; population; economy; culture (including cuisine); architecture and noteworthy sites; and a bibliography for further reading. An introduction offers the reader an account of the origins of the regions and their role in France today, and an historical overview of France from earliest times to the present. Appendixes include an historical time line and a catalogue of the rulers of France. An essential purchase for school and public libraries.

Reviews

"[A]n invaluable document for both students and teachers of contemporary French civilization. Examining as it does the history, geography, economy and culture of each of France's twenty-two regions, it presents a comprehensive and in-depth view of France, missing from most textbooks of French history and culture. Well-written and clearly presented, this book helps the reader to better understand French society, in particular, the complexities underlying the emergence of modern French national identity."-Venita Datta Director of the French Cultural Studies Program Wellesley College
"A different approach which makes for a superb book. Looking at each region of France with its own historical and geographic composition, with its contribution to civilization and culture, and with its up-to-date socio-economical and political overview constitutes fascinating reading, for the student as well as for the sophisticated and informed traveler. It has all the appeal of a novel."-Marie-France Hilgar Distinguished Professor of French University of Nevada Las Vegas
"Northcutt has produced an invaluable guide to a neglected subject, France's great regional diversity. The book includes politics, the arts, civilization, even cuisine with sample recipes. It will be an indispensable work of reference and general interest for students and teachers of French language, history, and civilization."-Irwin Wall Professor of History, University of California, Riverside
"Regions of France will prove to be an invaluable reference work for students of French civilization at all levels. Coming at a time when regionalization is playing such a crucial role in French political and social life, the book fills an immediate need for a broader understanding of France's geographic, historical, and cultural roots."-Bernard Petit Vice President, American Association of Teachers of French (AATF)
As a one-step reference guide to France and its regions, The Regions of France, like its companion volume, The Regions of Spain (Greenwood, 1995), is an invaluable addition to most reference collections and a recommended purchase for any Francophile. It is also a detailed snapshot of late 1990s France, showing the user that there is much more to the country than Paris, Peter Mayle's romantic Provence, or the mystical granite ranks of stones at Carnac. It is highly recommended for public and academic libraries.-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
Many visitors to France receive their initial impressions of that country from their experiences of Paris. Northcutt seeks to inform readers of the wealth, diversity, and energy provided by the 22 formally recognized regions where 80 percent of the population dwell....a detailed, up-to-date, and comprehensive guide. Recommended for academic and public libraries.-Choice
"Many visitors to France receive their initial impressions of that country from their experiences of Paris. Northcutt seeks to inform readers of the wealth, diversity, and energy provided by the 22 formally recognized regions where 80 percent of the population dwell....a detailed, up-to-date, and comprehensive guide. Recommended for academic and public libraries."-Choice
"As a one-step reference guide to France and its regions, The Regions of France, like its companion volume, The Regions of Spain (Greenwood, 1995), is an invaluable addition to most reference collections and a recommended purchase for any Francophile. It is also a detailed snapshot of late 1990s France, showing the user that there is much more to the country than Paris, Peter Mayle's romantic Provence, or the mystical granite ranks of stones at Carnac. It is highly recommended for public and academic libraries."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

Author Bio

WAYNE NORTHCUTT is Professor of History and Coordinator of the International Studies Program at Niagara University in New York. He is the author of Mitterrand: A Political Biography (1992) and The French Socialist and Communist Party under the Fifth Republic, 1958-1981 (1985). He is also editor-in-chief of the Historical Dictionary of the French Fourth and Fifth Republics, 1946-1991 (Greenwood, 1992). Professor Northcutt has published widely on political, social, and intellectual trends in post-World War II France.