Items related to Detour de France: An Englishman in Search of a Continental...
Though happy enough with his lot, Michael Simkins has never truly shaken the nagging doubt - helpfully upheld by his partner Julia - that he somehow lacks worldly sophistication. While she spent her teenage years as a nanny on a boat moored at Cannes, his utter lack of travel experience (Weymouth, Cleethorpes and a day trip to Dieppe) still has the power to shock people into leaving dinner parties early.
So as he hits middle-age, Michael takes up the challenge of broadening his horizons. He decides to improve himself in the same way English gentlemen lacking refined edges have for centuries: by learning from our more cultured French neighbours. Michael, an English provincial ingénue, sets off to discover just what the Gallic nation can teach him and the rest of us Anglo-Saxons about living the good life. Armed only with 50 Useful Phrases in French, he waits to see if his odyssey from La Manche to the Riviera will finally turn him from the scotch-egg eating spawn of Anne Widdecombe and John McCririck into the champagne-sipping love child of Serge Gainsbourg and Catherine Deneuve. Julia is saying a prayer for him at Lourdes.
So as he hits middle-age, Michael takes up the challenge of broadening his horizons. He decides to improve himself in the same way English gentlemen lacking refined edges have for centuries: by learning from our more cultured French neighbours. Michael, an English provincial ingénue, sets off to discover just what the Gallic nation can teach him and the rest of us Anglo-Saxons about living the good life. Armed only with 50 Useful Phrases in French, he waits to see if his odyssey from La Manche to the Riviera will finally turn him from the scotch-egg eating spawn of Anne Widdecombe and John McCririck into the champagne-sipping love child of Serge Gainsbourg and Catherine Deneuve. Julia is saying a prayer for him at Lourdes.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
"Brimming with well-told anecdotes with perfectly delivered punchlines...a must-read for anyone stepping on the Eurostar" (The Daily Telegraph)
"Vive le Simkins!" (Metro)
"Insightful, charming and trouser-wipingly funny." (Stephen Fry)
"Simkins makes even the worst travel experience pleasurable. In fact, the worse it is, the better he gets." (Michael Palin)
"Funnier than Bryson" (Michael Billington)
Book Description:
"Vive le Simkins!" (Metro)
"Insightful, charming and trouser-wipingly funny." (Stephen Fry)
"Simkins makes even the worst travel experience pleasurable. In fact, the worse it is, the better he gets." (Michael Palin)
"Funnier than Bryson" (Michael Billington)
From the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of Fatty Batter and The Last Flanelled Fool comes this hilarious tale of a Brit abroad.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherEbury Press
- Publication date2010
- ISBN 10 0091927536
- ISBN 13 9780091927530
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages320
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
£ 17.07
Shipping:
£ 41.93
From Germany to U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Seller Image
Detour de France
Published by
Random House UK
(2010)
ISBN 10: 0091927536
ISBN 13: 9780091927530
New
Softcover
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Dieser Artikel ist ein Print on Demand Artikel und wird nach Ihrer Bestellung fuer Sie gedruckt. Though happy enough with his lot, Michael Simkins has never truly shaken the nagging doubt - helpfully upheld by his partner Julia - that he somehow lacks worldly sophistication.From the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of Fatty Batter and Th. Seller Inventory # 806428853
Buy New
£ 17.07
Convert currency