The Story of French - The Language that Travelled the World

£10.99

“The Story of French” is a fascinating exploration of the historical and cultural development of the French language.

Spanning sixteen centuries, the book tells how this complex, resilient and influential language developed and spread across the planet, establishing itself as an independent political and cultural force. It became the accepted language of high culture via haute cuisine, fashion couture and designer chic, but was also responsible for the dissemination of radical art, ideas and politics at crucial periods in history.

It also reveals the strong cultural exchange between French and English since the Norman Conquest, even showing how French surrendered its dominance and was eclipsed by English - only to resurge in the second half of the twentieth century.