"An amazing adventure of discovery" - Daily Telegraph

"Flies in such a way that there isn't a single boring paragraph... amazing" - The Sunday Times

Illuminating, abstract, and full of surprises, The Discovery of France is Graham Robb's story on a 14,000-mile journey across France by bicycle to reveal an alternative history. France is a country famous for its intellectuals, philosophers, and writers, its fashion, food, and wine. However, the concept of the "French people" as a united nationality is relatively recent and, historically, quite misleading.

To discover the true past of France, Graham Robb realized that it was necessary not only to turn back time but also to travel at a slower pace than modern life offers. An award-winning modern classic, The Discovery of France is a literary exploration of a remarkable nation. From maps and migration to magic, language, and landscape, it reveals a France that few will recognize. And all from the perspective of two wheels.

Winner of the Duff Cooper and Royal Society of Literature awards, The Discovery of France is now included in the Picador Collection, a series celebrating fifty years of Picador books and highlighting the best contemporary literature.

Pages: 496, Year of Publication: 0114, Dimensions: 13x13cm