French Impressions: The Loire Valley: the Valley of the Kings: 2 - Softcover

George East

9780956269126: French Impressions: The Loire Valley: the Valley of the Kings: 2

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0956269125 ISBN 13: 9780956269126

Publisher: La Puce Publications, 2011

French Impressions: The Loire Valley is the second in a series of distinctive travel books by George East. George is the humorous author of nine informative, affectionate and very witty books about France, the French and their way of life. His speciality is to take the reader on a journey of discovery, looking at the culture and cuisine of a region, and how its history, landscape and location has contributed to its difference from the rest of the country. Some aspects of French culture are the same in each region, of course, and as he travels, George encounters and reports on encounters with eccentric French and expatriate British characters, labyrinthine bureaucracy, terrifying driving habits and bizarre national attitudes as he tries to get to the bottom of why the love-hate relationship between our countries has been so intense and long-lasting. French Impressions: THE LOIRE VALLEY is the result of George and his wife Donellas year-long stay in a beautiful area variously known as The Valley of the Kings and The Garden of France. The Easts journey of discovery takes them on a four-hundred-mile journey alongside and on the biggest river in France. There are more than three hundred grand chateaux in the Valley, but they are not the focus of the authors attention. Rather, he visits the last home and work place of LEONARDO DA VINCI, walks the battlements of Richard the Lionhearts favourite castle, goes underground in search of modern troglodytes and discovers how and why frogs legs first became a delicacy in this part of France. Together with reviews of more than a hundred Loire-side towns and villages, French Impressions: THE LOIRE VALLEY contains dozens of recipes for well and little-known regional dishes. As the author says, the purpose and intention of the book and series was to entertain and inform readers about a particular region of a diverse and fascinating country- and to give him a good excuse for road-testing all those bars, restaurants and local dishes.

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Product Description:

Yes, we know you know the Loire is the longest river in France. But did you know that one in every 702,203 Americans is named after the Loire Valley town of Nantes? Or that thirteen bottles of Loire Valley wine are sold and drunk somewhere in the world every second? Not all of them are imbibed by the author of this book, though he did his best to up the consumption rate during his year in this fascinating part of France. George East has spent more than a quarter of a century living with the enemy and observing their sometimes funny little ways, and the master raconteur's accounts of his rampaging around France have been enjoyed by millions. Inside these covers you'll find very little about the grand chateaux of the Loire, but a lot about the towns and villages and the people who live in them. You'll also learn about the history and culture and food and drink of the region. Particularly the food and drink. There are also dozens of easy-to-follow recipes for favourite Loirean dishes, from sauteed frogs' legs to roasted swan. One thing is for sure. You will find French Impressions: The Loire Valley different from any travel book you have read. Unless, of course, you are one of the army of fans who follow their flawed hero on his constant journeying in search of a Gallic paradise and the perfect coffee eclair -

Review:

French Impressions: The Loire Valley "The title is very apt. Compared with other travel books, reading George's work is like coming across the brightness and brio of an Impressionist painting in a museum full of sombre art..." --West Town News

How exciting George makes the Loire Valley sound. And not the usual chateaux that one does the rounds of. No, we find history and art galore along with food to make anyone's mouth water. Characters in abundance habit this delightful sounding country. I cannot wait for my next holiday. Thank you Geo... --Ed, Sud tonite

Loved this book. Informative, interesting and above all accurate. I can say this because I have visited a good percentage of the towns mentioned and I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in visiting, or if not, then just for the enjoyment of reading Georges work... --KFC Weekly

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