Portrait of France

In the early 1950s the author fell in love with a French girl and married her. Now a novelist, he returns to France to record his experiences and research in this book which is part travel, part historical and part personal experiences. A history of Grace Kelly's Monaco, a life of General Lafayette, a description of the scent industry around Grasse, the ill-doings of two notorious World War II collaborators, an account of the buildings of Paris, a biography of De Gaulle, a visit to Verdun, the land and wines of Bordeaux, the life of a champion cyclist and an essay on roast are just some of the chapters featured in this book. Robert Daley is the author of over 30 books including "Year of the Dragon" and "Hands of a Stranger".