A Bite-Sized History of France

Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War, and Enlightenment

By: Stephane Henaut, Jeni Mitchell

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

From the cassoulet that won a war to the crêpe that doomed Napoleon, from the rebellions sparked by bread and salt to the new cuisines forged by empire, the history of France is intimately entwined with its gastronomic pursuits. A witty exploration of the facts and legends surrounding some of the most popular French foods and wines by a French cheesemonger and an American academic, A Bite-Sized History of France tells the compelling and often surprising story of France from the Roman era to modern times. Traversing the cuisines of France's most famous cities as well as its underexplored regions, this innovative social history explores the impact of war and imperialism, the age-old tension between tradition and innovation, and the enduring use of food to prop up social and political identities.

The origins of the most legendary French foods and wines - from Roquefort and cognac to croissants and Calvados, from absinthe and oysters to Camembert and champagne - also reveal the social and political trends that propelled France's rise upon the world stage. They help explain France's dark history of war and conquest, as well as its most enlightened cultural achievements and the political and scientific innovations that transformed human history. These gastronomic tales will edify even the most seasoned lovers of food, history, and all things French.

©2018 Stéphane Hénaut and Jeni Mitchell (P)2019 Tantor

Loriefangio

What a wonderful book! I enjoyed it so much! Thank you for the history and insight.

Not enough food History

Interesting overall with some exciting food origins but at the end we go back to a History Book. I expected more of a culinary experience, a travel in History through food but it was more of History Book with some french classic food stories here and there

Absolutely outstanding!

What an enjoyable read. I had low expectations for this book but it is now one of my new favorites. Author does a beautiful job of blending history with food in a journey that leaves you hungry for French cuisine while learning the basics of French history.

History of France, in bite-size.

Listening to the introduction, I thought this book would focus more toward all the different food ingredients and dishes of France. I was looking forward to a culinary tour tied into regional history and culture. Instead, it's a book of French history, tied into their food culture, and thus given in "bite-size". It's still a very interesting book filled with many interesting pieces of information, but it's not what I expected and not what the book's introduction led me to believe it would be.

Engaging

A very nice stroll through culture, history, and food. Though the narrative wanders into many side alleys, the gems revealed in each is worth every detour. And every one is tied back into the overall fabric of narrative history in clever and interesting ways. Recommended.

A must listen for French food lovers!

I really enjoyed this book. I new a lot of the information already, but some I did not. I love history, almost as much as food, so the weaving of the two of them together was lovely.

What an awesome book!!! And the narrator was exceptionally good!!

Awesome awesome book!! Narrator was exceptional!!! Love it and have shared with many others thank you!!

Great stories, but...

The authors must be extreme leftists. It seems at every possible chance they trashed the right winged political party Fronte Nationale. I don’t mind personal political views, left or right, but the constant bashing got old fast. I would have been just as disappointed if there was constant bashing of left wing political parties.

Wonderful and insightful

Put many french dishes into historical context and helped accurately paint the picture of French Cuisine as a melting pot. Was happy to be provided with a further understanding of the class struggles when it comes to food inequality as well.

Hungry for fromage!

I love to cook with wonderful ingredients. This book was fun and informative about much beloved wines, cheeses and eating habits! The historical references related to the how and why certain foods gained popularity was interesting.

Having been to Paris three times made the history come alive again!