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The sequence in which food has been served at meals has changed greatly over the centuries and has also varied from one country to another, a fact noted in virtually every culinary history. Most food writers have treated the more significant alterations as stand-alone events. The most famous example of such a change occurred in the nineteenth century, when service à la française--in which the stunning presentation made a great show but diners had to wait to be served--gave way to service à la russe, in which platters were passed among diners who served themselves. But in Arranging the Meal, the late culinary historian Jean-Louis Flandrin argues that such a change in the order of food service is far from a distinct event. Instead he regards it as a historical phenomenon, one that happened in response to socioeconomic and cultural factors--another mutation in an ever-changing sequence of customs. As France's most illustrious culinary historian, Flandrin has become a cult figure in France, and this posthumous book is not only his final word but also a significant contribution to culinary scholarship. A foreword by Beatrice Fink places Flandrin's work in context and offers a personal remembrance of this French culinary hero. ... Read more

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Nineteenth-century France grew fascinated with the local past. Thousands of citizens embraced local archaeology, penned historical vignettes and monographs, staged historical pageants, and created museums and pantheons of celebrities. Stéphane Gerson’s rich, elegantly written, and timely book provides the first cultural and political history of what contemporaries called the "cult of local memories," an unprecedented effort to resuscitate the past, instill affection for one‚s locality, and hence create a sense of place. A wide range of archival and printed sources (some of them untapped until now) inform the author’s engaging portrait of a little-known realm of Parisian entrepreneurs and middling provincials, of obscure historians and intellectual luminaries.

Arguing that the "local" and modernity were interlaced, rather than inimical, between the 1820s and 1890s, Gerson explores the diverse uses of local memories in modern France—from their theatricality and commercialization to their political and pedagogical applications. The Pride of Place shows that, contrary to our received ideas about French nationhood and centralism, the "local" buttressed the nation while seducing Parisian and local officials. The state cautiously supported the cult of local memories even as it sought to co-opt them and grappled with their cultural and political implications. The current enthusiasm for local memories, Gerson thus finds, is neither new nor a threat to Republican unity. More broadly yet, this book illuminates the predicament of countries that, like France, are now caught between supranational forces and a revival of local sentiments. ... Read more

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This second edition of Multi-Ethnic France spans politics and economics, social structures and cultural practices and has been updated to cover events which have occurred on the national and international stage since the first edition was published. These include:

• recent developments in the Banlieues, including the riots of 2005
• the growing visibility of sub-Saharan Africans in France's evolving ethnic mix
• the reverberations in France of international developments such as 9/11, the second Intifada and the Iraq Wars
• the renewed controversy over the wearing of the Islamic headscarf
• the development of anti-discrimination policy and the debate over 'positive discrimination'.

Immigration is one of the most significant and persistent issues in contemporary France. It has become central to political debate with the rise, on one side, of Jean-Marie Le Pen's extreme right-wing party and, on the other, of Islamist terrorism. In Multi-Ethnic France, Alec G. Hargreaves unmasks the prejudices and misconceptions faced by minorities of Muslim heritage and lays bare the social and political neglect behind the riots of 2005.

This second edition is fully updated, and includes a glossary and chronology, as well as a revised bibliography.

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This is the one reference work that French teachers, students, and librarians need for student assignments on the regions of France. A one-stop, easy-to-use reference guide organized by region, it offers in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the cultural life (including cuisine and recipes), customs, history, politics, and the economy of each region. There is no other reference work 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 selection of photographs complements the text. ... Read more

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This is the first book in English to examine the unique role football plays in French society. What is so French about French football, and what does football tell us about France? Have French football's club chairmen sold out to television, and how are top clubs being re-branded to attract an international audience?

The author traces the development of French football values throughout the twentieth century, and concludes with a discussion of the fallout from the World Cup 2002. Hare also looks at players' racist attitudes, and considers how the national football team reflects the multi-cultural population of France.

The result is a fascinating cultural, economic, and political history of French football. It is also an engrossing account of how the global marketplace is reshaping national identity and community values. ... Read more

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This original and far-reaching study looks afresh at the involvement of the Catholic Church in the cultural life of France in the seventeenth century. Professor Phillips provides a comprehensive overview of art and literature, education, ideas and censorship, and he focuses on the Church as a reforming and reformed institution in the context of the Counter-Reformation. The strength of his synthesis, the first of its kind in English, lies in the breadth of its concerns and in its combination of social, religious and intellectual history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A WORK OF REAL SCHOLARSHIP
I have a Ph.D. in French language and culture and am currently teaching a course on the Church in 17th-c. France. Prof. Phillips exhibits all the wonderful qualities of British scholarship in this book. He knows his field and has an in-depth bilbiography. I am using this book as the main text for my undergraduate course; however, I do have some reservations. My primary concern is the fairly one-sided viewpoint. This shows up in the central controlling image of the book: spaces. "Spaces," after all, can connote confinement; and a simplistic summary of this work would identify CONTROL as the major concern of king and Church in this century. While this control was assuredly there, I feel limiting oneself too narrowly to this point of view gives a distressingly one-sided view of the Church. The 17th c. was one of great religious renewal in France too. It saw the flourishing of the work of great saints, like Vincent de Paul, the growth of the French School of spirituality (Cardinal de Berulle), and the incredible spread of priestly formation in the seminary system, due in no small part to Jean-Jacques Olier. Regrettably, the latter gets only one passing mention in this whole text. I don't mean to disparage this fine work unduly, but I do believe it could have been a bit more balanced. One comes away with a bitter taste in one's mouth regarding the 17th-c. Church. I feel this should have been at least bitter-sweet. ... Read more

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French cooking has been seen as the pinnacle of gastronomy. Food Culture in France provides an accessible tour of haute cuisine but also mainly the everyday food culture that sustains the populace. It illuminates the French way of life as well as showing what the popular cooking shows, such as Julia Child's, were based on. Readers will find the basics discussed in narrative chapters on food history, major foods and ingredients, cooking, typical meals, eating out, and diet and health.

The information-packed volume is also indispensable for learning about regional cultivation and specialties that France is so famous for. The French appreciation for seasonal food is illuminated in descriptions of shopping, cooking, and eating habits. All students of French culture and language and Francophiles will benefit from the overview presented here.

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Customer Reviews (2)

Half correct, but altogether unconvincing.
In the book The Lady and the Virgin, Penny Schine Gold presents a two-fold argument: first, that the relationship between the image of women and the reality of the existence of women is far more complex than traditionally imagined, representing a continual pattern of ambivalence and contradiction; and second, that measuring the culture, society, and images of the Middle Ages in terms of modern values and ideas, or even in terms of good and bad, is of far less benefit than an effort to "understand medieval people within their own terms."These patterns are analyzed in four areas: secular image, religious image, religious life, and secular life. In regards to secular image and reality, her points are quite clear and successfully made; however, her arguments on religious image and reality are both unconvincing and easily refuted.....

Excellent text, of broader interest than the title suggests.
An indisciplanary work which has served me well since first I read it, Schine-Gold's book achieves its remarkable results through an intense look at a narrow geographic area and time period.However, it must be recalled that in the twelfth century, France was the most important intellectural center in Europe.As such, Schine-Gold's narrow focus actually allows her to examine trends and developements of broad significance during the medieval period.By combining a solid grasp of literary criticism with a stellar view of art history, Schine-Gold produces a book that is of interest to students of several disciplines:medieval literature, history, art, and even religion and philosophy.Her close readings of texts and monuments allow her to develope some solid, interesting, and sometimes surprising theories that have an impact on ones's general understanding of 12th century France and the Middle Ages in general.A fine, fine work I would recommend to experienced undergraduates as well as those of great experience in their fields. ... Read more

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Read This Book!
This is a wonderful book, if you are interested in 19th century France.A must-read for anyone interested! ... Read more

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This new book takes readers on a fascinating tour of France from its majestic mountains and quiet countryside to its seemingly endless Mediterranean beaches. Glorious full-color photos help display France's elegant cities, monuments, and many wonders as well as its plants, animals, farming, and industry. ... Read more

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Known for their joie de vivre, the daily life of the French people is revealed in colorful detail in this new book. France's rich history is explored along with modern life in the city and in the country. Candid photos reveal what family life is like, how children are educated, and how they spend their leisure time. ... Read more

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Practical guide to understanding French business culture. Helps you gain the confidence and acceptance you need to succeed in the French business community. Paper. DLC: Business etiquette-France. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Business France Review
This is a lite book and it was meant to be a pocketback book. The guidelines & suggestions are well written and easy to understand. Having closely with many French & American people, I found the book tobe helpful and honest. Just don't expect a lot of extra words. It wasalso written to be read on an airplane or over lunch.

Very useful information but needs more detail!
This book provides information essential to anyone hoping to conduct business in France.However, I would have liked a more in-depth and detailed look at everyday business affairs.This book highlights the majordifferences of the French and American approaches to business.Alsorecommend "French or Foe" by Polly Platt. ... Read more

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An introduction to the geography, history, economy, culture, and people of France. ... Read more

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When this book was published in 1984, it reframed the debate on the French Revolution, shifting the discussion from the Revolution's role in wider, extrinsic processes (such as modernization, capitalist development, and the rise of twentieth-century totalitarian regimes) to its central political significance: the discovery of the potential of political action to consciously transform society by molding character, culture, and social relations. In a new preface to this twentieth-anniversary edition, Hunt reconsiders her work in the light of the past twenty years' scholarship.Illustrations: 21 line illustrations, 2 maps, 10 tables ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An important contribution to the scholarship and a great read
According to Hunt, the French revolution and the Napoleonic autocracy provided the models which all later revolutions and autocracies based their politics upon. This book makes a real contribution to the scholarship and is an important read for anyone who wants to understand how modern "politics" came into being.

Some Of The Inside Story Of The French Revolution
This year marks the commemoration of the 220th Anniversary of the great French Revolution. Democrats, socialists, communists and others rightly celebrate that event as a milestone in humankind's history. Whether there are still lessons to be learned from the experience is an open question that political activists can fight over. None, however, can deny its grandeur. Well, no one except those closet, and not so closet, modern day royalists, and their epigones that screech in horror and grasp for their necks every time the 14th of July comes around. They have closed the door of history behind them. Won't they be surprised then the next time there is a surge of progressive human activity?

********

All great revolutions, like the French revolution under review here, are capable, especially when they are long over, of being analyzed from many prospectives. Moreover, official and academic historian have no other reason to exist except to keep revising the effects that such revolutions have had on future historical developments. Left wing political activists, on the other hand, try to draw the lessons of those earlier plebeian struggles in order to better understand the tasks ahead. As part of that understanding it is necessary to look at previous revolutions not only from the position of how it effected the plebes but to look at from the position of those who do not see the action of the plebeian masses as decisive, at least for the French Revolution.

Professor Lynn Hunt in the book under review, "Politics, Culture and Class In the French Revolution" has carved out a niche for herself exploring the morals, mores and customs of the insurgent revolutionary forces as they tried to legitimize their seizure of power. Moreover, she has done some extensive work culling through the statistics and other documentary evidence to see who, according to her lights, the main beneficiaries of the revolutionary struggle were. For those partisans of later social movements and revolutionary movements the questions posed by Professor Hunt's study about the symbols and organization of power are a welcome addition.

If one, like this reviewer, spends his or her time looking at the base of society (here the urban sans culottes, the landless peasants and displaced village artisans)to see how those forces were brought to political life, organized, made politically effective (if only for a time, as noted above, before they as individuals like society in general also run out of revolutionary steam) and how they put pressure on their leaderships and how those leaderships responded to those pressures then one downplays the other social forces that are in play in a revolutionary period. Great revolutions, however, create all kinds of turmoil in layers of society that previously were dormant or were in control, although shakily. In that regard, virtually a sure sign that a pre-revolutionary situation exists is when a portion of the old ruling elite (or their agents) begins to make revolutionary noises. That is the value of Professor Hunt's study.

All political/social movements have their rituals, symbols and customs. Of special note here is Professor Hunt's focus on the work of the politician/artist David in creating many of the visual `myths' of the revolution. The book is loaded with many other interesting cultural tidbits, as well. For those of us who cherish the memory of the French Revolution as the forerunner of greater social movements this little work is a welcome addition. For those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the French revolution a more generalized study is warranted before you tackle this work.Then come back here and appreciate this more intriguing and specialized study.

Deeply thought provoking take on the French Revolution
The Fall of Communism and the resultant unleashing of repressed nationalism spurred renewed interest in the origins and causes of nationalism.The sudden groundswell of nationalism was as though a manifestation of Albert Camus' quote that "It is a well-known fact that we always recognize our homeland when we are about to lose it."Many historians and sociologists date the origins of nationalism as an ideology, sentiment or social movement to the early years of the 19th Century, but this is a contentious subject, and one which Hunt seeks to disprove by utilizing French history as her vehicle.Hunt focuses on the means French Revolutionaries utilized to achieve a French national identity by supplanting those of the ancien regime.

When first released in 1984, Hunt's book was something of a sensation for its exploration of the use of symbolism, imagery and rhetoric to forge a common national identity at the time of the Revolution, as well as purging the vestiges of the ancien regime.Hunt takes a cultural approach exploring the use of material culture in rallying popular opinion to the Republican cause; an approach that was novel for the time, but one that is now often emulated.Hunt gives ample space in her introduction to the various historiographical debates over the causes and meaning of the Revolution, as well as over the means whereby the revolutionaries sought to solidify their hold on power.But Hunt is primarily concerned with the means revolutionaries utilized to rally public support, in the process remaking and remodeling French society in the revolutionary image, rather than in discussing the causes or consequences of the Revolution.Hunt persuasively argues that the political cannot be separated from the cultural, and it was the emergence of a public political culture in Revolutionary France that solidified support of republican ideals in the hearts and minds of the French.French citizens, previously unaccustomed to being political participants, instead found themselves actively courted by the various political factions and as a result, became actively engaged in the struggle over the Revolution.In the process belief in the King, the church, and the state were gradually swept away, replaced by the ideals of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

Hunt divides her book into two halves; the first, and more intriguing half, addresses the appropriation of symbols and imagery to inculcate support of the Revolution's ambitions with its citizens.The second half is a more straightforward sociological examination of the Revolutionary experience.While the two halves seem somewhat dissimilar, the two related to each other well, the first half explaining the means whereby revolutionaries created the new trappings of state, and the second examining who comprised the new political classes.In the hands of a lesser author a sense of disconnection and dissimilarity could easily creep in, yet here each half would be weakened by the exclusion of the other.By its very nature the Revolution politicized French society and culture, and there was no part of French life untouched by the desire to reshape and reform it in the republican image.

Hunt forces the reader to reevaluate the hidden and blatant messages conveyed by material culture, not just in Revolutionary France, but in other societies past and present, as well as our own.In the process readers confront the familiarity of the Revolution through the paradigm of the material culture it produced and in the process encourages rethinking what we know about past events.But Hunt's focus on the process, rather than the outcome or consequences of the Revolution is one of the few failings of "Politics, Culture, and Class."Instead of entering into the fray on the relative merits of the Revolution, she instead only obliquely addresses the larger historiographical debate, focusing on her own innovative theory instead.Hunt likewise leaves questions unanswered, such as whether many of the Revolutionary era festivals were compulsory, how widely attended they were, and the receptiveness to this new imagery by French citizens.The imagery of Communist era art, parades and films serving as propaganda all come to mind, and the same question lingers: did those who attended really believe in the ideals being paraded before them?While "Politics, Culture, and Class" serves to inform our fuller understanding of the creation of French national identity, it is only one piece of a larger puzzle.

Deeply thought provoking take on the French Revolution
The Fall of Communism and the resultant unleashing of repressed nationalism spurred renewed interest in the origins and causes of nationalism.The sudden groundswell of nationalism was as though a manifestation of Albert Camus' quote that "It is a well-known fact that we always recognize our homeland when we are about to lose it."Many historians and sociologists date the origins of nationalism as an ideology, sentiment or social movement to the early years of the 19th Century, but this is a contentious subject, and one which Hunt seeks to disprove by utilizing French history as her vehicle.Hunt focuses on the means French Revolutionaries utilized to achieve a French national identity by supplanting those of the ancien regime.

When first released in 1984, Hunt's book was something of a sensation for its exploration of the use of symbolism, imagery and rhetoric to forge a common national identity at the time of the Revolution, as well as purging the vestiges of the ancien regime.Hunt takes a cultural approach exploring the use of material culture in rallying popular opinion to the Republican cause; an approach that was novel for the time, but one that is now often emulated.Hunt gives ample space in her introduction to the various historiographical debates over the causes and meaning of the Revolution, as well as over the means whereby the revolutionaries sought to solidify their hold on power.But Hunt is primarily concerned with the means revolutionaries utilized to rally public support, in the process remaking and remodeling French society in the revolutionary image, rather than in discussing the causes or consequences of the Revolution.Hunt persuasively argues that the political cannot be separated from the cultural, and it was the emergence of a public political culture in Revolutionary France that solidified support of republican ideals in the hearts and minds of the French.French citizens, previously unaccustomed to being political participants, instead found themselves actively courted by the various political factions and as a result, became actively engaged in the struggle over the Revolution.In the process belief in the King, the church, and the state were gradually swept away, replaced by the ideals of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

Hunt divides her book into two halves; the first, and more intriguing half, addresses the appropriation of symbols and imagery to inculcate support of the Revolution's ambitions with its citizens.The second half is a more straightforward sociological examination of the Revolutionary experience.While the two halves seem somewhat dissimilar, the two related to each other well, the first half explaining the means whereby revolutionaries created the new trappings of state, and the second examining who comprised the new political classes.In the hands of a lesser author a sense of disconnection and dissimilarity could easily creep in, yet here each half would be weakened by the exclusion of the other.By its very nature the Revolution politicized French society and culture, and there was no part of French life untouched by the desire to reshape and reform it in the republican image.

Hunt forces the reader to reevaluate the hidden and blatant messages conveyed by material culture, not just in Revolutionary France, but in other societies past and present, as well as our own.In the process readers confront the familiarity of the Revolution through the paradigm of the material culture it produced and in the process encourages rethinking what we know about past events.But Hunt's focus on the process, rather than the outcome or consequences of the Revolution is one of the few failings of "Politics, Culture, and Class."Instead of entering into the fray on the relative merits of the Revolution, she instead only obliquely addresses the larger historiographical debate, focusing on her own innovative theory instead.Hunt likewise leaves questions unanswered, such as whether many of the Revolutionary era festivals were compulsory, how widely attended they were, and the receptiveness to this new imagery by French citizens.The imagery of Communist era art, parades and films serving as propaganda all come to mind, and the same question lingers: did those who attended really believe in the ideals being paraded before them?While "Politics, Culture, and Class" serves to inform our fuller understanding of the creation of French national identity, it is only one piece of a larger puzzle.

A great addition to French Revolution Reading
If you want to understand how the French Revolution changed the common people of France this is a great way to start. The book is a bit dated but still stands up very well and Hunt's credentials are excellent.This book also talks about some of the symbols of the revolution and makes for an interesting analysis on the side.The politics goes through quite a bit of the revolution but it is fairly scattered (like most Hunt books are). If you are reading about the French Revolution this is a great addition to your reading list. ... Read more

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Why dissenters can be an organization's most valuable asset and how to transform dissent into innovation
Innovation is essential to competitive survival in today's global marketplace. But in the majority of traditional organizations, innovators are perceived as counter-productive dissenters, single-minded troublemakers who are difficult to manage and politically naive. Written by a leading international expert on change management, this groundbreaking book explores the vital link between the need for innovation in the e-business world and the new role of dissenters as agents for constructive change. With the help of numerous case examples and anecdotes, Frances Horibe helps managers appreciate the value that dissent can bring to an organization, and she provides proven strategies and hands-on advice on how to encourage innovation and manage creative dissent, while avoiding paralyzing conflicts. Readers learn about the new role of managers as political handlers who help develop and support new ideas and sell them to senior management, and much more.
Frances Horibe (Ottawa, Ontario) is President of VisionArts International, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in radical change management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Many Minds Are Better Than One !
This is a great book for the times as it exposes bare the efficiency/innovation dichotomy as the necessary yin/yang of organizational life.Innovators are often viewed derogatorily as dissenters.These 'dissenters' are culled from a larger group of 'complainers'.They are in fact quite valuable to the company if handled right.Corporte cultures rife with their emphasis mainly on 'best methods' have supressed the innovators of tomorrow's ideas.Unfortunately this suppression drives the innovator 'underground'.Underground dissension causes many problems in the corporate culture, the worst of these being whistle-blowing.

This book covers in detail the innovation killers.The types and characteristics of dissenters.How to be a 'political handler' of dissenters.How to coach dissenters.How to actively foster dissent and innovation.New concepts that enable this movement.How to surface existing dissent.How to manage the dissenter.

Remember that 7 out of 10 employees surveyed said they would not correct their boss even when they new he/she was wrong.

Five Stars

Managing creative dissenters
This is another example of the material for an excellent article expanded into a book that is best skimmed rather than read in depth. The thesis is simple - good innovation relies on people who are not committed to the status quo. The advice on how to handle dissenters from the status quo who have original minds is sound but sometimes a bit tedious and obvious. However, we need to remember Tom Peters dictum 'Obviously, the obvious is not so obvious', as Horibe demonstrates how often corporations shoot themselves in the foot.

The author's starting point is the vital necessity of innovation to the health and survival of corporations and the fact that innovation - good ideas carried through to market success - is typically disruptive to existing business and typically driven by people who are not wedded to the corporate status quo. Senior executives and the corporate structure itself on the other hand, tend consciously or unconsciously to make life difficult for these dissenting innovators. The book is about relationships between the dissenters and the corporate 'establishment' and how these relationships can be managed productively.

She points out the critical difference between continuous improvement and true innovation, which is frequently disruptive. Neither the drive for efficiency nor the trend to team working contribute directly to innovation in the wider sense and both may in fact work against it. She builds the case that it is dissenting individuals who have the vision and the passion to carry genuinely new ideas through to market success, but that typically in a large corporation they do not have the power to do so.

The core of the book is devoted to an analysis of the nature of dissent, how it is typically suppressed and what is needed for the management of an organization to recognize, support and encourage potentially productive dissent, while also maintaining sensible boundaries of authority.

Each chapter ends with a summary and statement of key points. My advice is to start with these and, if they are not obvious to you or you want further explanation, go back to the main text. The points made are well set out and logically developed, but I found the explanations and illustrations unnecessarily long-winded.

Managing dissenters is, of course, only one aspect - an important one - of the complex question of how to build and maintain a successful strategy of continuous innovation, supported by culture of innovation. A listing of books on the subject can be found on my site. ... Read more

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Threatened from above by economic globalization and European integration, and from below by the rise of identity politics, the French state has attempted to redefine its relationship to its citizens. Reinventing France examines the ways in which state action has endeavored to promote social integration in an increasingly fragmented nation and has challenged traditional concepts of an indivisible Republic and universal citizenship rights in order to achieve the core republican ideals of freedom, equality and solidarity.
... Read more