My 14 Favorite Books About France

My favorite books about France is such a long list, not to mention limiting myself to only 10! When I decided to write a blog that would share my favorite books, the list quickly got out of hand. I decided I had to limit the list to 10.  No doubt, there will be other blogs to follow this one that will focus on books but each will have a slightly different focus. And here is where I admit that I was completely unable to restrict myself to the original 10 books as too many of these books link so well to one another!

Today, my favorite books on France is going to focus primarily on non-fiction books that have helped us plan our trips to the hexagon but they are not your typical travel guides. Since virtually everyone starts in Paris, that’s where I will go first. Their order is significant only in that I have tried to group related ideas together.

As you read through my list, there are a few things you should know. First, I really don’t have much affinity for history books in general. I never found them to be enjoyable reading when in school. So if I have included a book that addresses history, know that it served well to enlighten my travels and was an enjoyable read.  Most of these I have read several times and each time I gain new insight into someplace different. Second, the links are affiliate and connect to Amazon. If you purchase a book through the link, I will receive a tiny remuneration that will serve to support this blog. (Thank you!)

Favorite Books About France : Paris

Historical Non-fiction

Metronome: A History of Paris from the Underground Up by Lorànt Deutsch. Metro stop by metro stop I learned details about Paris’ history in the most fascinating way. I discovered this book when I found the video on a clearance rack in FNAC. It had some amazing images and really helped strengthen my French comprehension. I knew I was missing details due to my level of French at that point so when I got back to the US I immediately went in search of his corresponding book in English. Deutsch has a sequel to this book as well as others but they are all in French and I wanted to focus on just English language books on this post.

Metrostop Paris: A History from the City’s Heart by Gregor Dallas. This book is similar and yet different to Lorànt’s book. This was the first book I read that explored Paris’ history via her metro stops. It’s definitely an interesting read but lacks the maps  and images that are in Metronome.

Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris by Graham Robb. It would be impossible for me to create a list like this without including Robb’s books. This is not the first of his books that I read nor will it be the last! Robb is an historian extraordinaire. The best way to describe this book comes from the frontal piece on the book jacket: “a series of astonishing true narratives all stranger than fiction of the lives of the great, the near-great and the forgotten”.

Historical Novels

Paris: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd. I am a huge fan of Rutherfurd’s historical novels and after wading through Sarum, this book was a much lighter read. He is an expert researcher as well as an amazing storyteller. Even your non-Francophile friends will enjoy this book. I think my favorite part explored the building of the Eiffel Tower.

The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay. Yes, you’ve heard that author before as she also wrote Sarah’s Key which is also a  excellent read. However, this book focuses on the changes created by all the Haussmannian renovations in the late 1800s brought about by Napolean III. This one woman’s fight to save her family home is at times heartbreaking. The development of the characters drew me in to the book and I read it straight through without stopping – not a good thing when you have a 7:00 class to teach the next morning!

Pure by Andrew Miller. Did you ever wonder where all the bones came from that you see in the Paris Catacombs? This historical novel follows their journey from the plagues that created overflowing cemeteries, notably Les Innocents, to the catacombs. It is vivid and gripping. For the romantic who wishes they lived in the 1700s, this just might change your mind.

Favorite Books About France : Exploring Beyond Paris

1 – 2 Hours from Paris

Paris to the Past: Traveling Through French History by Train by Ina Caro. I love this book and it’s perfect if you want to begin your trip in Paris and then visit towns that are a mere train ride away. The book is organized by time periods. Sometimes you are as close to Paris as the Louvre, Versailles or St-Denis. Other chapters take you via train to Reims and her amazing cathedral, Rouen or Angers. These out-of-Paris trips are all at most a journey of 1.5 hours from Paris.  It is an unconventional travel guide but a must read if you want to know where to go next after Paris.

An Hour From Paris  by Annabel Simms. Of all the books I’ve listed on this blog, this one is the most “travel guide-like”. Each chapter is about a different town which is an hour by train from Paris. Filled with maps and suggestions found in any typical travel guide, it also speaks to the traveler who wants to walk, take the bus or drive! 80 kilometers appears to be the maximum distance and she says she plotted out the most pleasant walking routes. We love this book! I also discovered that she has a new book out Half-hour From Paris that came out 24 April, 2018. I’ll definitely have to order that as soon as its back in stock!

History + Travel Guide

Paris to the Pyrenees: A Skeptic Pilgrim Walks the Way of Saint James by David Downie. It was difficult to know under which subheading to include this book. This book is part travel journal part history that begins in Paris and ends in Spain. The comment from a National Geographic Traveler writer expresses a whole different viewpoint from mine. “He makes me want to live in Paris again.” For me, it made me want to walk the pilgrimage routes. In particular, his exact route, to see and experience the history of France that he shares.

The Valley of Heaven and Hell – Cycling in the Shadow of Marie Antoinette  by Susie Kelly. I can’t choose between Susie Kelly’s books as to which is my favorite. I chose this book for this post because I enjoy cycling and know that as a cyclist you get to explore little-documented areas. Her cycling journey starts in Versailles and heads toward the Marne and Champagne regions of France. It is a wonderful mix of travel journal and history.

History at its Best

The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography by Graham Robb. This was the first book by Robb that I read and still my favorite. I was mesmerized by his exploration of little hamlets and villages. He talked to the locals, the old men who were playing boules or just sitting outside the mairie. On his bicycle journey he gradually unravels French history, “14000 miles ”  and ” 4 years in the library” . This book is fascinating!

Célestine: Voices From a French Village  by Gillian Tindall. Tindall found a cache of letters in an old French farmhouse and from those and interviews with locals, she has constructed this true story. The little village in Chassignolles and the story of Célestine Chaumette’s life there is absolutely fascinating. Praise from the Observer “No other living foreign writer has gone deeper into the psyche of rural France”. A must read in my opinion.

Favorite Books About France and Cooking

Doing Without Delia: Tales of Triumph and Disaster in a French Kitchen by Michael Booth. This book is a humorous journal that is a delight to read. I love the way it weaves recipes into the story. Booth wants to learn how to cook properly so he moves his family from England to Paris. There, he enrolls in the Cordon Bleu cooking school. We get to follow his exploits in and out of the kitchen in a thoroughly delightful manor.

White Truffles in Winter by N.M. Kelby – When I begin this book, I had never heard of the renowned French chef Auguste Escoffier. Now I feel like I know him personally. This elegant piece of historical fiction weaves a love story around  his life that left me longing to experience his cooking.

I hope at least one of these books brings you joy. Never stop reading!