French Biography

Married for political reasons at the age of fourteen, Marie Antoinette was naive, impetuous, and ill-equipped for the role in which history cast her. From her birth in Vienna in 1755 through her turbulent, unhappy marriage, the bloody turmoil of the French Revolution, her trial for high treason during which she was accused of incest, and her final beheading, Marie Antoinette's life was the tragic tale of disastrous circumstances colliding.

In the summer of 1975, the sprawling valley town of Grand Junction, Colorado, is stunned by the grisly double murders of 24-year-old Linda Benson and her baby daughter Kelley. For Jim Fromm and Doug Rushing, the two young detectives assigned to the case, the investigation is a chance to earn their stripes and prove their mettle. At first, Fromm and Rushing peg the woman's mercurial husband, a pipe-fitter who works outside of town, as the primary suspect.

The Reign of Terror continues to fascinate scholars as one of the bloodiest periods in French history, when the Committee of Public Safety strove to defend the first Republic from its many enemies, creating a climate of fear and suspicion in revolutionary France. R. R. Palmer's fascinating narrative follows the Committee's deputies individually and collectively, recounting and assessing their tumultuous struggles in Paris and their repressive missions in the provinces.

Josephine's life story was as turbulent as the age, an era of revolution and social upheaval, of the guillotine and of frenzied hedonism. With telling psychological depth and compelling literary grace, Carolly Erickson brings the complex, charming, ever resilient Josephine to life in this memorable portrait, one that carries the reader from the sensual richness of her childhood in the tropics to her final lonely days at Malmaison.

Durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Primo Levi, vingt-quatre ans, juif, lutte aux côtés des maquisards antifascistes du Piémont. Capturé en 1943, il se retrouve peu après à Auschwitz, où il demeurera plus d'un an avant d'être libéré par l'armée russe en janvier 1945. Au camp, il observe tout. Il se souviendra de tout, racontera tout : la promiscuité des blocks-dortoirs, les camarades qu'on y découvre à l'aube, morts de froid et de faim ; les humiliations et le travail quotidiens, sous les coups de trique des kapos.

At 47, Mark Greenside, a glass-is-half-empty native New Yorker living in California, unwillingly went to Brittany, and to his great amazement and surprise fell in love with the place and its people. Then, because love makes you crazy and do crazy things, he borrowed money from his mom and bought a 120‑year‑old farmhouse in Plobien, a village of 500 people.

Set during World War II, an unforgettable historical novel about love, war, family, and loyalty told in in the voices of two women, generations apart, who find themselves connected by a mysterious and valuable bottle of wine stolen by the Nazis. 1942. Seven-year-old Martine hides in an armoire...

The Second Emancipation, the second work in a trilogy from bestselling author Howard W. French about Africa's pivotal role in shaping world history, underscores Adam Hochschild's contention that French is a "modern-day Copernicus." The title―referring to a brief period beginning in 1957 when dozens of African colonies gained their freedom―positions this liberation at the center of a "movement of global Blackness," with one charismatic leader, Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972), at its head.

The extraordinary life of James Monroe: soldier, senator, diplomat, and the last Founding Father to hold the presidency, a man who helped transform thirteen colonies into a vibrant and mighty republic. “A first-rate account of a remarkable life.” —Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author...

Erwin Rommel est sans doute le plus connu des généraux allemands de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Plus de soixante ans après sa mort, il personnifie souvent le soldat qui inspire le respect aussi bien pour sa maîtrise de l'art de la guerre que pour s'être montré réservé à l'égard du régime hitlérien. Or, à la lumière des archives et de récentes recherches parues pour la plupart en langue allemande, il convient de remettre en question cette image apologétique.

The definitive biography of the great soldier-statesman by the New York Times bestselling author of The Storm of War Austerlitz, Borodino, Waterloo: his battles are among the greatest in history, but Napoleon Bonaparte was far more than a military genius and astute leader of men. Like George...

2025 ECPA Award Winner - Biography & Memoir Read by the author. A riveting look inside a life of poverty, success, and the inner circles of political influence--from the foothills of Appalachia all the way to the White House. New York Times bestselling ghostwriter Nancy French is coming out of...

In this book, you'll discover a brief story of the truth behind the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, even if you're not a history buff or a fan of biographies. Plus, you'll also learn how to appreciate the complexities of historical figures; understand the socio-political climate of the late 18th and early 19th century Europe; delve into the psyche of one of history's most controversial leaders; unravel the mysteries surrounding his rise and fall; and get a fresh perspective on world history. This unique approach combines meticulous research with engaging storytelling, providing a more immersive...

When Mark Greenside - a native New Yorker living in California, political lefty, writer, and lifelong skeptic - is dragged by his girlfriend to a tiny Celtic village in Brittany at the westernmost edge of France in Finistere, or what he describes as "the end of the world," his life begins to change. In a playful, headlong style, and with enormous affection for the Bretons, Greenside shares how he makes a life for himself in a country where he doesn't speak the language or understand the culture.

In her own words, here is the captivating story of Julia Child’s years in France, where she fell in love with French food and found her “true calling.” From the moment the ship docked in Le Havre, en route to Paris, in the fall of 1948, Julia had an awakening that changed her life. Soon...

The enchanting story of Julia Child's years as TV personality and beloved cookbook author--a sequel in spirit to My Life in France--by her great-nephew Julia Child is synonymous with French cooking, but her legacy runs much deeper. Now, her great-nephew and My Life in France coauthor vividly...

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 ...

A culinary memoir that brings to life some of the most fascinating, glamorous food years in France and reveals gastronomical treasures from gifted artisans of the French countryside. From small cafes in Paris to Normandy, Alsace, the Basque country, and beyond, Dryansky takes us on a sweeping sensory journey, with a voice as thoughtful as Kingsolver, as entertaining as Bourdain, and as cogent and critical as Pollan.

In This Country of Ours, H. E. Marshall tells the story of America from the start of the settlements, to 1912, ending with the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. She tells it in a fashion that children are able to understand, and that will keep them interested. Marshall has filled this book with about 100 years of history, breaking them down by regions.

Albert Einstein est l'une des plus grandes icônes de notre époque : ce scientifique fuyant l'oppression, avec ses cheveux en bataille et ses yeux pétillants, son humanité attachante et son intelligence hors du commun, est devenu synonyme de génie.