The Discovery of France

'An extraordinary journey of discovery' - Daily Telegraph

'Pedals along with never a dull paragraph . . . dazzling' - The Sunday Times

Illuminating, engrossing and full of surprises, The Discovery of France is the tale of Graham Robb's 14,000-mile journey across France on a bicycle to uncover an alternative history.

France is a country famous for its intellectuals, its philosophers and writers, its fashion, food and wine. And yet the notion of 'the French' as one nation is relatively recent and, historically speaking, quite misleading. In order to discover the true past of France, Graham Robb realized it was necessary not only to go back in time, but also to go at a slower pace than modern life generally allows.

An award-winning modern classic, The Discovery of France is a literary exploration of a remarkable nation. From maps and migration to magic, language and landscape, it reveals a France few will recognize. And all from the perspective of two wheels.

Winner of the Duff Cooper and the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje prizes, The Discovery of France is now included in the Picador Collection, a series celebrating fifty years of Picador books and showcasing the very best of modern literature.