1000 Years of Annoying the French

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A bonus is that the humor is on point most of the times which by itself this saves the book in many cases. Ten centuries' worth of French historical 'facts' bite the dust as Stephen Clarke looks at what has really been going on since 1066 . This is a great introduction to anybody wanting to understand the peculiar relationship between two countries separated by a 30 mile stretch of water and 1000 years of colourful history.

1000 Years of Annoying the French Quotes - Goodreads 1000 Years of Annoying the French Quotes - Goodreads

I could go on stating the other way that the Guernsey resistance did a terrible job on blowing up railways (do they have a railway there? In many cases, as the book has a clear anti-French bias (albeit tongue-in-cheek apparently) Clarke takes pains to point out where our common understanding of the influence of France on history is misplaced. On hindsight, this is a really good book to get yourself familiar with the history of these two countries, even if you're not from either of them. Why do only 1 per cent of those who study law succeed in joining this mysteriously opaque profession?Not surprisingly, these aspects are key in establishing the book's unique charm - un très bon read, overall! But at the same time, any mention of the history of Quebec rouses burning anti-British and anti-American outrage in a French person’s heart, as if someone was talking about a favourite café of theirs that had been turned into a Starbucks.

1000 Years of Annoying the French :: Stephen Clarke :: Book 1000 Years of Annoying the French

French and British history overlaps so much during the last thousand years, it’s impossible to separate one from the other. Mary Queen of Scots passing was treated with indifference by the Scots (a people she had little regard for) and was designed to annoy - yes you've guessed - the French.Stephen Clarke is the bestselling author of seven books of fiction and nonfiction that satirize the peculiarities of French culture. A year after arriving in France, Englishman Paul West is still struggling with some fundamental What is the best way to scare a gendarme?

1000 Years of Annoying the French: (Revised edition) by

Much of the early stuff I already knew (perils of being a medievalist), but the 17th C chapters and later I found remarkably educational, in part because I realised that I knew a lot of facts from this period but almost none of the whys. In it they will find a full supply of delightful anecdotes, giving them all the amunitions they need to silence the arrogant French. Although, this is not a complete recount of the events and more so, a quick and light skim over the history. Combined with Clarke’s hilarious writing I would gladly advise it to anybody who wants to have an amusing look on the interaction between two European powers.The author is British but has lived on both sides of the channel, and he lobs potshots in each direction.

1000 Years of Annoying the French - Google Books

We've cooperated with America pretty amicably on projects like liberating Europe and inventing pop music. And now it’s time to put our differences aside and start working together as one people, living together on the same planet and facing the same problems. But there’s only a handful of sentences mentioning that the British were there to fill their pockets too. Malcolm Fisher inherits a magic ring from a dying badger and becomes the much-disputed Ruler of the World. Taking a piss out of the French somehow gave such satisfaction, that at times I got uneasy with my own Francophobic feelings.It's also very informative, although not necessarily in the manner of a traditional history book, with several rather obscure historical events being focused upon.