It does say 'bite-sized' so don't open this thinking you are getting a full-on history of France beginning with the Romans right up to now. No way would that fit into 352 pages, ha ha. And then you throw zillions of food history too! Ooh la la, impossible ! What else would you expect from one of the great cuisine country's in the world? Nothing less. I found this hugely enjoyable, a bit of romp racing through the major elements of French history, the massive complexity of its population make up - Gauls, Romans, Normans, Moors, Spanish, Dutch, English, African, Vietnamese, Melanesian mixed up with all the cuisines and unique foods and tastes each of these populations and many others bring to the table. Food of course is at the center of it - different types of cheeses from different regions, wine, oysters, bread - and how important food is in the history of a people and how they live. This is highly entertaining, so interesting, simple in its telling, and just a great read. If you like travel, history, and food, this is the book for you.
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