France: An Adventure History

Robb’s (The Debatable Land) description of France from the Bronze Age until the present combines history, geography, biography, and travel. With a delightfully engaging tone, the book describes the land and its people so effectively that listeners may be able to imagine living there during these times. Robb’s focus is on little-known aspects of history, so he does not linger on the French Revolution. Instead, he tells much about a young shepherd boy in the late 900s who would go on to become the first French pope. His description of Napoleon Bonaparte is well rounded and utterly charming, particularly when he conveys the relationship Bonaparte had with young Betsy, the daughter of his jailkeeper. Tom Lawrence narrates with a melodious, British accent, evincing a sincere warmth toward the subjects of the book. His narration is unhurried, sympathetic, and approachable, and his sense of timing—particularly comedic timing—is impeccable. Lawrence frequently directs listeners to additional downloadable material that may not be available to them through digital library channels.