The Discovery of France

The Discovery of France is an award-winning modern non-fiction classic. A literary exploration of a remarkable nation - from maps and migration to magic, language and landscape - it reveals a France few will recognize. And all from the perspective of two wheels.

France is a country famous for its intellectuals, its philosophers and writers, its fashion, food and wine. And yet the notion of 'the French' as one nation is relatively recent and, historically speaking, quite misleading. In order to discover the true past of France, Graham Robb realized it was necessary not only to go back in time, but also to go at a slower pace than modern life generally allows. The Discovery of France - illuminating, engrossing and full of surprises - is the result of Robb's 14,000-mile journey across France on a bicycle.