I felt he was trying too hard to project his own erudition: his lofty style and insistence on focusing on the obscure ignored the reader, like the elitist Professor burdened with chairing a tutorial for lowly undergraduates that he considers, frankly, beneath him and unworthy of his time. His essays are mostly history mixed with part memoir, part travelogue, and a decent amount of humor. We are experiencing delays with deliveries to many countries, but in most cases local services have now resumed. He connects the land to its history in a way that made me want to fly to France and see if I could follow his trail.

However, the forward-looking essays in which Robb takes on difficult subject matter like colonialism's legacies and Islamophobia in modern France are also compelling. 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'. It’s not a survey; it plunges down into the lives of people to give immediacy to the moments and movements of France’s storied past and changing present.

He reminds me of a comic plotting his course on a treasure map, going round and round until s/he reaches their destination; when a simple straight line would have reached their objective ages ago. Part travelogue and part essay, this is a lively and thought-provoking homage to the complex and inimitable country that is France. More French soldiers died in Rossignol on 22 August 1914 than on any other day in French history, before or since.

But its a quick read, with a large percentage of the book made up of pictures, an index, a travel guide and reference text. If you are looking for a general overview of the history of the country, you would be better served by more traditional works. Overall, the concept is interesting, and while some chapters were weaker than others, this was an interesting read and a fairly unique take on popular history writing.Who would have thought that even into the 18th century France was so divided, undeveloped… that you could get lost just trying to walk back to Paris. I thought one of the most interesting stories was that of Louis Napoleon III, Bonaparte’s nephew, who took power in l848 and ruled until the defeat of the French in the Franco-German war of l870. Even with the helpful maps and a massive list of notes and references (which constitute nearly one-third of the hefty book), readers might appreciate the stories more if they have a ready understanding of French history, geography, and language.

I want to know more about the scandal of the Murder of Madame Bovary, more theories into The Tree at the Center of France, or simply more recounts of Robb’s own stories of visiting the hidden parts of France. A stunningly illustrated history of Venice, from its beginnings as 'La Serenissima' - 'the Most Serene Republic' - to the Italian city that continues to enchant visitors today. The author discusses the Cathers, describes maps featuring a particular tree, then follows a 1552 guidebook by Charles Estienne.

What I mean is in each chapter, I couldn't help but feel like freefalling through time itself, seeing swathes of reality and abstractions that manifest themselves in what makes up France, both tangible and intangible. To fully appreciate what I mean, perhaps a few other synonyms would help: lost, annoyed, impatient, or desperate for coherence. Along the way, readers will find the usual faces, events and themes of French history – Louis XIV, the French Revolution, the French Resistance, the Tour de France – but all presented in a shining new light.

His history rock-hound nuggets are the stars of the show, providing him with the conversation pieces that give this book its unique flavor.

He and teacher Eileen wrote extensively to each other, and it is through these letters and Frank's journals that we gain a remarkable insight into life during these times. Frequently hilarious, always surprising, this is a sweeping panorama, teeming with characters, stories and coincidences, and offering a thrilling sense of discovery and enlightenment.