French Sketches -- Translation Series of Cultural and Literary Life

Author: (USA) James
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: The author traveled to France in 1882 for this trip. From north to south, he visited nearly forty places. His views on France were mixed, and he freely commented on these places with his own preferences and the style of a novelist. When the southern grapes were ripe, he couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the vineyards dressed in the red of October. The Loire River was vast and magnificent, its turns gently reflecting half the sky’s light. At the same time, he devoted considerable space to describing unpleasant restaurants, musty museums, inadequate churches, and dull historical landmarks. Many notable sights might have gone unnoticed by him; on the other hand, for a traveler who sometimes took pride in his abundant emotions, such indifference was shocking. It’s not surprising that anything that reminded him of British scenery held more interest for him. This book is not a travel guide and may not necessarily inspire wanderlust, but rather showcases the author’s style and technique, telling how one can express their feelings in a different cultural environment.