France Memoir

Joan of Arc is one of the most astounding heroins in French history. Her achievements leave anyone who knows her story shaking his head in amazed wonder. A small peasant girl born in Domrémy, she said she was visited by the Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine, who instructed her to support the King Charles VII to recover France from English domination. It was the end of the Hundred Years' war, and the French army was miserable, almost defeated, and hopeless; but the young maiden obeyed the voice that spoke to her and took arms, eventually leading a galvanized army to astounding victories. She was later caught by a coalition allied with the English; the ensuing story of her trial and eventual execution at the stake is one of the most distressing episodes of history, with lies and manipulation forcing a political agenda against all evidence.

The bar was high after the glorious reign of the Sun King. Louis XV, his successor, had a difficult time driving the country through religious disputes, intellectual shifts and economical hardness. This eventually led to a steep economic decline, which played an important role in the reaction of the French people against the monarchy, and eventually gave way to the French Revolution.

Edward Thomas was perhaps the most beguiling and influential of the First World War poets. Now All Roads Lead to France is an account of his final five years, centered on his extraordinary friendship with Robert Frost and Thomas’s fateful decision to fight in the war. The book evokes an astonishingly creative moment in English literature: a generation that included W. B. Yeats, Ezra Pound, and Rupert Brooke.

Louis Philippe (1773-1850) is France's first "constitutional monarch", having being properly elected by the National Assembly. He lived through the French Revolution, during which he saw his brother and sister-in-law, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, guillotined by extreme revolutionaries. Then, Napoleon Bonaparte seized the throne, declared himself emperor, and began the conquest of Europe; after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, France welcomed Louis Philippe back as an elected King.

Louis-Charles Bourbon, or the Dauphin, never actually reigned, but became either a symbol of martyrdom or the object of one of the most successful acts of substitution ever performed. He enjoyed a charmed early childhood in the palace of Versailles, as the heir of the most powerful throne in Europe; when the French Revolution unfolded in all its horror, his family was incarcerated, and the orphaned boy-King had to endure the hostility and abuse of a nation.

At the climax of the French Revolution, King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine. When the young Louis XVII, Louis XVI's son, died in prison in June 1795, Louis XVIII succeeded his nephew as titular King. His reign was marked by exile, first because of the Revolution, and then of Napoleon, who set to conquer Europe and become Emperor of the French - before a coalition defeated him and restored Louis XVIII to the throne.

More than two centuries after her death, Marie-Antoinette continues to fascinate historians, writers, and filmmakers. She was born into royalty, and a world of immense privilege and power. At age 14, she married the one who would become Louis XVI, King of France; when he made her a queen, she was universally adored. But afterwards, her extravagant lifestyle turned public opinion against her, eventually participating in the crumbling of the already discredited monarchy into a maelstrom of revolution, disaster and tragedy.

This collection of audiobooks will help you understand a crucial part of the history of French monarchy. For each king, you will find a detailed description of the style of his reign and his political achievements narrated in a lively way. Portraits of Henri IV, Louis XI, Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVIII.

The Sun King's reputation still stands on his reign, rich in art and literature, his brilliant court and invincible armies. He was in power for 72 years, the longest reign of any monarch in European history; he made France the leading European power, set up the lavish palace of Versailles to be sure the rebellious nobility would always be before his eyes, and consolidated a system of absolute monarchical rule in France that endured until the French Revolution.

Louis VI was a warrior king, but at the end of his reign, his weight had become so great that it had become difficult for him to lead in the field - hence his nickname "The Fat". He was a strong and competent ruler, who managed to considerably reinforce his power in the kingdom, and largely contributed to the subsequent centralization of authority in France. Learn about his soar to power, his struggles with the "robber barons", and his successes in alliances and coalitions.

Henry IV of France, also known as the "Good King Henry", was King of France from 1589 to 1610. Born a Catholic but raised a Protestant, he barely escaped assassination in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, and later led Protestant forces against the royal army, before being called to the French succession upon the death of his cousin Henry III.

Louis XI: this rebellious king was first called "The Prudent", in reference to his cunning ways, and then, "The Universal Spider" when it appeared that his ceaseless intrigues had turned into full-blown webs of plots and conspiracies. Learn how the Cunning King of France was able to eliminate his rebellious vassals, expand royal power, and strengthen the economic development of his country, all through the power of isolating treaties, precise timing, and intense diplomatic activities.

The Lucky Ace of France tells of the amazing exploits of Captain Georges Guynemer, taking listeners on a journey through his eventful life. A national hero for France and aviation enthusiasts around the world, Guynemer racked up 53 kills in WWI, crashed several planes, and was wounded twice.

Aus dem Buch "Tor-tour de France" wurde nun das Hörbuch. Als Bonusmaterial gibt es die Reise zum EM-Qualifikationsspiel nach Schottland, sowie ein Interview mit mir über unsere aufregende Zeit.

Bayard naquit vers 1475, au château de la Bussière dans la vallée de Grésivaudan. Envoyé très jeune à Grenoble, il se forma sous la direction de Mgr Alleman, évêque de cette ville. À l'âge de 13 ans, rappelé au château paternel, il ne rêve plus que de faits d'armes et de batailles. C'est alors que son oncle le présenta au Duc de Savoir Charles Ier, qui tenait à ce moment sa cour à Chambéry et qui le prit comme page. Bayard suivit ce prince quand il alla rendre visite à Lyon au roi Charles VIII. Bayard, invité à manœuvrer son cheval devant le roi, le fit avec une telle maîtrise que celui-ci le demanda au Duc de Savoie.

Steve Matchett's thought-provoking short story - Fragments from France - has proved one of the author's most popular pieces of memoir writing. This atmospheric tale was first published in his highly acclaimed collection of short stories, These Desired Things. This new audiobook sees "fragments" elevated in status - this truly essential story of first world war survival now narrated as a compelling "live performance edition" with the text delivered in three distinct acts.

Quando Hitler invade la Cecoslovacchia, nel marzo del 1939, Franci Rabinek ha diciannove anni. È una giovane donna passionale e inquieta, nata in una famiglia di ebrei non praticanti di Praga. Il padre è un ex ufficiale dell'esercito austriaco, la madre è proprietaria di un rinomato atelier di alta moda. Nell'estate del '42 Franci viene deportata insieme al marito e ai genitori nel ghetto di Terezín, la cittadella fortificata dove sono segregati trentacinquemila ebrei.

Rok v Provenci je první částí volné trilogie vonící levandulí a chutnající po těch nejvybranějších lahůdkách a nejlepším víně. Chronologicky popisuje rok jednoho Brita, který se rozhodl přestěhovat do malé vesnice v malebné francouzské oblasti Provence. S anglickým humorem v jeho nejlaskavější podobě nás autor seznamuje s radostmi i úskalími života cizince, který se rozhodl uskutečnit svůj sen žít v místě, které dosud znal pouze jako turista. Kniha Rok v Provenci získala řadu ocenění, například British Book Awards pro rok 1989 za nejlepší cestopisnou knihu.

La publicarea din Franța, în 2008, Anii a fost primită cu surprindere. Deși Annie Ernaux era deja de decenii o scriitoare iubită și premiată, Anii a reprezentat, în mult feluri, un nou început: atât un volum de memorii al unei întregi generații, dar și povestea unor oameni ce-și relatează istoria unică. Poate de aceea naratoarea cărții evită pronumele „eu", alegând să folosească „noi".

The Road to Villa Page: A He Said/She Said Memoir of Buying Our Dream Home in France is the first in a series of books that captures the experience of living in the Dordogne region of France, as filtered through the eyes of an American family from a “he said, she said” perspective. Our story begins with falling in love with France, specifically the enchanting Dordogne. We weren’t the first and we won’t be the last.