Showing results by author "Julien Peltier" in All Categories

Where the wild Atlantic crashes against the Basque cliffs, a village of fishermen became an empire’s dream, a poet’s refuge, and a surfer’s paradise. In Biarritz: The Eternal Shore, historian Julien Peltier traces nine centuries of transformation — from medieval whalers and royal lovers to jazz-age stars and modern surfers. Through wars, empires, and waves, Biarritz has reinvented itself endlessly, yet always remained true to its soul: proud, untamed, and irresistibly alive. With cinematic storytelling and meticulous research, Peltier reveals how a remote Basque port became the ...

From the cobblestone streets of Paris to the halls of power in Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte’s genius shaped the modern world. He was more than a conqueror; he was an architect of law, order, and ambition. Napoleon’s Blueprint explores how one man’s vision transformed France, influenced America, and created systems that endure centuries later. Julien Peltier takes readers on a cinematic journey through Napoleon’s rise from Corsican outsider to Emperor, revealing the institutions, education systems, urban planning, and legal frameworks that continue to define modern governance. With...

A sweeping history of power, conquest, and memory — and how an empire that no longer exists still shapes one of the world’s most influential nations. For over three centuries, France ruled vast colonies across Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific. From the sugar plantations of Saint-Domingue to the battlefields of Algeria and Indochina, the French Empire reshaped global politics and left behind a legacy as complex as it is contested. In The Long Shadow of Empire, historian Julien Peltier traces the rise and fall of France’s colonial project and shows how its ...

From secretive French monks to the glittering court of Versailles, from the trenches of World War I to Wall Street boardrooms and Hollywood red carpets, champagne has been more than a drink — it has been a symbol of power, victory, and celebration. In Pop!, historian and storyteller Julien Peltier uncorks the hidden history of the world’s most famous wine. Discover how: • Exploding bottles once threatened to end champagne before it began. • A widowed Frenchwoman, Madame Clicquot, built a global empire against all odds. • Champagne cellars hid Resistance fighters from the Nazis ...

Discover the France you never knew — beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Loire châteaux, past the cafés of Paris and the lavender fields of Provence, into the soul of the nation. France: The Tapestry of Regions takes you on an unforgettable journey through history, culture, and identity — from Brittany’s rugged coasts to Corsica’s jagged mountains, from the vineyards of Burgundy to the Alps’ soaring peaks. Historian Julien Peltier weaves together centuries of French history with vivid storytelling, revealing the unique character of each region: the troubadours of Languedoc, the ...

The Algerian War (1954–1962) was one of the last great struggles of decolonization — a brutal conflict that forever changed France and Algeria. Between November 1954 and July 1962, Algeria, then a French territory for over a century, became the scene of a fierce fight for independence. This war was not only a military confrontation, but also a political, ideological, and psychological battle that divided communities, mobilized millions, and drew the attention of the entire world. In The Algerian War: A Clear History for Intermediate and Advanced French Learners, historian Julien Peltier...

A century of sweat, courage, and obsession — the story of how the Tour de France became the world’s greatest test of endurance. From the dusty roads of 1903 to the high-tech duels of today, The Road to Glory takes readers inside the soul of the Tour de France — where triumph and tragedy ride side by side. Blending cinematic storytelling with documentary realism, this sweeping narrative follows the race’s evolution through war, scandal, and rebirth. You’ll meet the riders who became legends — Garin, Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Armstrong, Pogačar, and Vingegaard — each ...

French isn’t just one accent—it’s dozens of voices, each with its own music, quirks, and charm. In French Accents: A Tour de Voice, Julien Peltier takes you on a witty, insightful, and cultural journey across the French-speaking world. From the clipped sophistication of Paris to the lyrical singsong of Provence, from the hearty rhythms of Quebec to the warm cadences of Africa, this book reveals how accents shape identity, history, and humor. Why do Parisians tease southerners? Why does Quebec French sound so different (and so delightful)? Why do we swoon at a French accent in English...

The epic story of how France was born — from tribal chaos to the rise of kings, knights, and cathedrals that reshaped the West. Long before Versailles, Napoleon, and the French Revolution, there was another France — a land of warriors and dreamers, forged in blood and stone. In The Birth of France, discover how a scattered world of barbarian tribes, Viking invaders, and feuding lords became the first true nation of Europe. Meet Clovis, the warrior king who baptized a people; Charlemagne, the emperor who dreamed of uniting the West; Viking raiders who became dukes of Normandy; and the ...

For a century, the French Alps have been the stage of winter’s greatest story: the birth, rise, and reinvention of skiing as we know it. From shepherds gliding on wooden planks to aristocrats chasing glamour, from Chamonix’s 1924 Winter Olympics to Courchevel’s jet-set era, and from Cold War concrete utopias to today’s climate crisis, Snow & Splendor tells the dazzling history of France’s legendary ski resorts. Julien Peltier takes readers on a sweeping journey through time and snow — where mountaineers, architects, celebrities, and visionaries shaped entire valleys into ...

A medieval citadel in the sea. A thousand years of war, faith, and survival. The unforgettable story of Mont Saint-Michel. Rising from the tides of Normandy like a vision, Mont Saint-Michel has captivated pilgrims, kings, conquerors, and travelers for more than thirteen centuries. It has been a sacred abbey, an impregnable fortress, a revolutionary prison, and a world treasure. In The Eternal Fortress, discover the breathtaking saga of this iconic mount: • War and Siege: How Mont Saint-Michel withstood English armies and became the “Bastion of France.” • Faith and Pilgrimage: From ...

Step into the enchanting world of French pâtisserie—the delicate, colorful, and utterly irresistible art of pastry that has captivated the world for centuries. From the royal kitchens of Versailles to the bustling cafés of Paris, The Art of French Pâtisserie takes you on a journey through history, culture, and innovation. Discover how legendary chefs like Antonin Carême and Auguste Escoffier transformed desserts into masterpieces, how Sunday family rituals made pastry part of everyday life, and how French techniques continue to inspire chefs around the globe. Filled with fascinating ...

Step onto the sun-soaked shores of the French Riviera, where history, glamour, and legend collide. From the glittering casinos of Monte Carlo to the sun-drenched beaches of Saint-Tropez, The Eternal Riviera takes you behind the velvet ropes of the world’s most legendary coastline. Travel through two centuries of intrigue, luxury, and artistry. Witness F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway turning the Riviera into a literary paradise, Grace Kelly transforming Monaco into a real-life fairy tale, and Brigitte Bardot making Saint-Tropez the playground of desire. Follow the rise of Hollywood stars...

Discover the city behind the legend. From its mythic origins along the Seine to the vibrant streets of the 21st century, Paris: Lives, Revolutions, and Resilience is the definitive history of the world’s most iconic city — told through the eyes of the people who lived it. Explore: • The myth, archaeology, and legends of early Paris. • The revolutions and uprisings that reshaped Europe. • The rise and fall of kings, emperors, and political powers. • The everyday lives of Parisians, from the Medieval period to the modern metropolis. • The cultural and intellectual innovations ...

What happens when soldiers turn against their own nation? In the early 1960s, as Algeria fought for independence, a secret French organization waged a brutal campaign of bombings, assassinations, and sabotage. They called themselves the Organisation de l’Armée Secrète (OAS). To their followers, they were patriots. To the world, they were terrorists. The Secret Army: The Rise and Fall of the OAS in Algeria is a gripping, cinematic history of one of the most dangerous underground movements of the 20th century. From the chaos of colonial Algiers to the near-assassination of Charles de ...

In the early days of aviation, a handful of fearless pilots defied deserts, mountains, and oceans to deliver letters across continents. This is their story. Wings Across the World takes readers on a breathtaking journey through the golden age of airmail, chronicling the daring exploits of France’s legendary Aéropostale pilots—Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Jean Mermoz, Henri Guillaumet, and others—whose courage, skill, and ingenuity made history. From the scorching sands of the Sahara to the perilous heights of the Andes and the endless expanse of the South Atlantic, these men risked ...

Empire of Bones: The Secret History of the Paris Catacombs Beneath the dazzling streets of Paris lies a city of the dead—six million souls, arranged in endless walls of skulls and bones. But the Paris Catacombs are more than a morbid curiosity. They are the hidden stage on which centuries of French history played out. From the collapse of ancient quarries to the overflowing cemeteries of the eighteenth century… from Revolutionaries who saw liberty in the equalizing silence of the dead to Resistance fighters and Nazi occupiers during World War II… from smugglers and secret societies to...

Paris, May 1968: Students on the barricades. Ten million workers on strike. A president in hiding. For a moment, France was on the brink of revolution. What began as a student protest exploded into the largest general strike in Western history. Universities were occupied, factories seized, and the government nearly toppled. For weeks, Paris became a battlefield of ideas and cobblestones, where youth demanded a new world — and the old order fought back. Paris on Fire: May 1968 and the Revolution That Shook the World brings this explosive moment to life for American readers. With the ...

City of Shadows and Light: The Cemeteries of Paris by Julien Peltier Step beyond the boulevards of Paris and into its most secret world — the resting places where history, art, and memory converge. From the grandeur of Père Lachaise to the secrecy of Calvaire, this book takes you on an unforgettable journey through the cemeteries of Paris. Here, rock stars and revolutionaries, poets and painters, saints and sinners all share the same soil. Their stories — Oscar Wilde’s flamboyance, Édith Piaf’s fragile defiance, Jim Morrison’s reluctant stardom, Marie Curie’s immortal science ...

The Fifth Republic of France is one of the most dramatic political experiments in modern history—and it’s still unfolding today. Born in 1958 from crisis and fear of collapse, Charles de Gaulle’s “Fifth Republic” has survived student uprisings, terrorist attacks, corruption scandals, populist revolts, and the fury of millions marching in the streets. Against all odds, it has outlived every French regime since the Revolution of 1789. In this gripping, cinematic history, The Fifth Republic: France’s Unfinished Revolution takes readers inside the battles that shaped modern France: ...