Kirjahaku

With an introduction by Colm Tóibín.Ten years ago, I began to explore the country on which I was supposed to be an authority . . .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 'real' past of France, Graham Robb realized it was not only necessary 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. Winner of both the Duff Cooper and the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje prizes, The Discovery of France is a 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. 'An extraordinary journey of discovery' Daily Telegraph'Robb's concise and fast-paced writing pedals along with never a dull paragraph . . . dazzling' Sunday Times

‘A book worth reading’ Andrew Marr, Sunday TimesThe Debatable Land was an independent territory which used to exist between Scotland and England. At the height of its notoriety, it was the bloodiest region in Great Britain, fought over by Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and James V. After the Union of the Crowns, most of its population was slaughtered or deported and it became the last part of the country to be brought under the control of the state. Today, its history has been forgotten or ignored.When Graham Robb moved to a lonely house on the very edge of England, he discovered that the river which almost surrounded his new home had once marked the Debatable Land’s southern boundary. Under the powerful spell of curiosity, Robb began a journey – on foot, by bicycle and into the past – that would uncover lost towns and roads, reveal the truth about this maligned patch of land and result in more than one discovery of major historical significance.Rich in detail and epic in scope, The Debatable Land takes us from a time when neither England nor Scotland could be imagined to the present day, when contemporary nationalism and political turmoil threaten to unsettle the cross-border community once more. Writing with his customary charm, wit and literary grace, Graham Robb proves the Debatable Land to be a crucial, missing piece in the puzzle of British history.Includes a 16-page colour plate section.

A SPECTATOR and PROSPECT Book of the Year'Ceaselessly interesting, knowledgeable and evocative' Spectator'A fresh way to write history' Alan Johnson'A quirky, amused, erudite homage to France . . . ambitious and original' The Times_____France: An Adventure History is a profoundly original and endlessly entertaining history of France, from the first century BC to the present day, based on countless new discoveries and thirty years of exploring France on foot, by bicycle and in the library.Beginning with the Roman army’s first recorded encounter with the Gauls and ending with the Gilets Jaunes protests in the era of Emmanuel Macron, each chapter is an adventure in its own right. Along the way, readers will find the usual faces, events and themes of French history – Louis XIV, the French Revolution, the French Résistance, the Tour de France – but all presented in a shining new light.Graham Robb does not offer a standard dry list of facts and dates, but instead a panorama of France, teeming with characters, full of stories, journeys and coincidences, giving readers a thrilling sense of discovery and enlightenment. France: An Adventure History is a vivid, living history of one of the world’s most fascinating nations by a ceaselessly entertaining writer in complete command of subject and style._____'A rich and vibrant narrative . . . clear-eyed but imaginative storytelling' Financial Times'Full of life' Prospect

An authoritative history of the French nation that can be read for novelistic pleasure, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Discovery of France and Parisians.

A Spectator and Prospect Book of the YearWinner of the American Library in Paris Book Award'An amused, erudite homage to France . . . ambitious and original' - The Times'Ceaselessly interesting, knowledgeable and evocative' - Spectator'A fresh way to write history' - Alan Johnson_____Original, knowledgeable and endlessly entertaining, France: An Adventure History is an unforgettable journey through France from the first century BC to the present day.Drawn from countless new discoveries and thirty years of exploring France on foot, in the library and across 30,000 miles on the author’s beloved bike. It begins with Gaulish and Roman times and ends in the age of #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, the Gilets Jaunes and Covid-19.From the plains of Provence to the slums and boulevards of Paris, events and themes of French history may be familiar – Louis XIV, the French Revolution, the French Resistance, the Tour de France – but all are presented in a shining new light by Graham Robb.Frequently hilarious, always surprising, this is a a vivid, living history of one of the world’s most fascinating nations. It will make even seasoned Francophiles wonder if they really know that terra incognita which is currently referred to as ‘France’._____‘Packed full of discoveries’ - The Sunday Times'A gorgeous tapestry of insights, stories and surprises' - Fintan O'Toole'A rich and vibrant narrative . . . clear-eyed but imaginative storytelling' - Financial Times'Full of life' - Prospect

Grekhem Robb - britanskij pismennik, literaturnij kritik, istorik, kavaler Ordena mistetstv ta literaturi, avtor bestseleriv The New York Times. Jogo knizhki otrimali Premiju Daffa Kupera, Premiju Korolivskogo literaturnogo tovaristva ta Veliku medal mista Parizh. Krajinoznavchi materiali Robba unikalni: pratsjujuchi nad svojimi knizhkami, vin ne lishe priskiplivo vivchaje pratsi vchenikh ta zhurnalistiv, a j desjatilittjami provodit vlasni doslidzhennja, mandrujuchi na velosipedi najriznomanitnishimi kutochkami Frantsiji.Jaskravi narisi Grekhema Robba pro sotsialnu, politichnu ta geografichnu istoriju Frantsiji povnistju rujnujut kanonichne ujavlennja pro tsju krajinu i dajut zmogu pogljanuti pid inshim kutom na, zdavalosja b, khrestomatijni postati Ljudovika XIV, Napoleona Bonaparta, Sharlja de Gollja. Avtoru je chim zdivuvati navit najbilshikh frankofiliv, i v tsij knizi vin vidkrito pro tse zajavljaje! Zi storinok, na jakikh prigodnitski sjuzheti tisno pereplitajutsja z litopisnimi urivkami, vi diznajetesja, zokrema:* jak gallskij zhivoplit zupiniv i naljakav rimsku armiju;* scho parovij mekhanizm robiv u dogotichnomu sobori za shist soten rokiv do opanuvannja energijeju pari;* chi spravdi derevo piznannja roslo u samisinkomu tsentri Frantsiji;* zavdjaki chomu Napoleon vvazhav sebe prjamim naschadkom Ljudini v zaliznij mastsi;* chomu bojovij statut 1914 roku dlja "velikikh pidrozdiliv" armiji buv napisanij jak dlja serednovichnikh litsariv;* de roztashovana kaplitsja Bogoroditsi velosipedistiv.PerekladachNatalija Jatsjuk

"Prantsusmaa. Seikluste ajalugu" on isikupärane ja haarav jutustus, millest õhkub autori elu jooksul kogutud tarkust ja kirge. Siin ühinevad romaanikirjaniku stiil ja õpetlase sügavad teadmised. Kohati naljakasse, pidevalt üllatavasse jutustusse pole kuhjatud fakte ja aastaarve, selle asemel loob autor Prantsusmaast hämmastava sümfoonilise panoraami Gallia ja Rooma aegadest kuni liikumiste #MeToo ja Black Lives Matter ning kollavestide ja Covid-19 aastateni.Kirjaniku Prantsusmaal elamise, töötamise ja reisimise aegsed seiklused ning avastused seovad müstilise rännaku ajas ja ruumis maalähedaste kogemustega. Sõja- ja revolutsioonistseenid Provence'i tasandikest Pariisi slummide ja bulvariteni ning mõned tegelased - Caesar, Karl Suur, Louis XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte, kindral de Gaulle - võivad olla tuttavad, kuid kõiki näidatakse siin veidi teises valguses. Paljud teised sündmused, kohad ja inimesed ei ole Prantsusmaad käsitlevates ajalootekstides kunagi varem esinenud - aurumasin gooti katedraalis, hiiglaslik puu Prantsusmaa keskpunktis, salapärased katsed kippuda autori elu kallale ...Ligi pool sajandit uurimistööd ja kondiauruga liikuval kaherattalisel ajamasinal - jalgrattal - läbitud viiskümmend tuhat kilomeetrit - nii on valminud see raamat, mida lugedes võivad paadunumadki frankofiilid ehk imestada, kas nad ikka üldse tunnevad seda terra incognita't Euraasia läänepoolses servas, mis praegu kannab nime Prantsusmaa.Graham Robb on sündinud 1958. aastal Manchesteris, õppinud ja ka töötanud Oxfordis Exeteri kolledzhis. Ta on kirjutanud Prantsusmaa ajaloost ja kirjandusest. Eesti keelde on seni tõlgitud tema Whitbreadi auhinna võitnud biograafia "Victor Hugo" (Varrak, 2000), nii Duff Cooperi kui ka Kuningliku Kirjandusühingu Ondaatje auhinnaga pärjatud "Prantsusmaa avastamine" (Varrak, 2010) ja "Pariislased" (Varrak, 2012), mille eest autasustas Pariisi linn teda linna aumedaliga. Graham Robb elab Inglismaa ja Shotimaa piirialal.