Touche
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Book Overview
Why France and Britain are so different, and why they do things in opposite ways. A brilliant and vigorous observer of both French and British societies, which she knows intimately, 32-year-old Agnes Catherine Poirier has spent the last ten years explaining the peculiarities of France to the British and of Britain to the French. Not an easy job. Having studied both in Paris and London, writing in both languages for the French and British press, Agnes Catherine Poirier plays with national stereotypes, which are both stupid and dangerous, with dexterity and savoir faire. She goes beneath the surface to explain why France and Britain keep arguing and competing endlessly, why they are so different and why they do things in almost opposite ways. Covering the worlds of art, politics, action, food, institutions, sex, history, media, society and philosophy, she tells us as much about us as why France is a nation apart. Revenge for tabloid attacks on France or for British expats' invasions of Brittany and the Dordogne? You decide. But this will entertain and educate all readers about their own country and whether its 'entente' with La Belle France is 'cordiale' or not. You may disagree with her but you may never see yourself in the same way again.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0753821702
ISBN13:9780753821701
Release Date:July 2007
Publisher:Phoenix
Length:170 Pages
Weight:0.40 lbs.
Dimensions:0.6" x 5.2" x 7.8"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Francophile and Anglosaxon
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This book is amusing and insightful, from a French woman's angle looking into English world in an objective view. Having grown up in a former English dominated country and received 12 years of English education in Science and Mathematics, I got a chance to pursue my University education in France Grande Ecole system, I was touched by the author's candid opinion of both French and English temperament. Yes, they are different - one of the practical 'Fish and Chip' culture and the other the delicate fine 'cuisine'. One lacking of comparison by the author is in the area of Science and Mathematics. Coming from the English world, I had to unlearn many of my English teachings in order to adapt to French's "Cartesian" spirit. French are prone to abstractness à la Bourbaki but disconnected to practicality; English are good in applied but care less on its philosophical origins. They compliment each other. You can't have both good things in life - C'est la vie, n'est-ce pas ?
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