Ina Caro

39. The Road from the Past : Traveling Through History in France by Ina Caro (1994, 329 pages, read Aug 6-24)

Reading themes that led me here (an experimental entry): TBR pile & general interest in pre-19th-century European history

I'll conclude up front: This was an enjoyable but flawed book. Ina Caro is apparently something of an medieval history expert, although her bibliography here does seem limited. She is perhaps an OK author, but there are some awkward aspects in this book.

What I show more didn't like - the opening paragraph in the introduction which includes the line: "When I see the typical American tourist, I feel like yelling out, 'Don't do it that way, it's no fun. Do it my way.". The book is targeted to Americans and line is intended to be helpful...but if I had read that in the a book store, I would have put the book back down and maybe gone and wiped my hands with something. To her credit, this line is consistent with her real feelings. Ostensibly a travel book, it only works that way if, like Ina Caro, your spouse is a successful author and you and your spouse have the time and means to spend a month or so in France about every year.

I'm being too harsh?

But there are good parts here too. She does two things well. The first is that this serves as a quick and mostly painless and entertaining overview of the history of France. I did enjoy it. The second is her habit of describing her day in some location, and all the wonderful little experiences she has, then moving immediately to the history of gore and slaughter that underlies it. It's striking and effective. I had never heard of the Albigensian Crusade, but Ina Caro has left me absolutely fascinated by it.

The book works until about the end of the hundred years war (She does well with Joan of Arc, by the way). As the French kings become more secure in the power, the book become more a repetitive description of various palaces.

To read this in the context of my 2013 LT thread, go here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/154187#4319915 show less

A good travel book but I'm never going to France and I'm not that interested in architecture and I found out I know nothing about French history. But it actually was pretty interesting.

If you are into French History then this book is for you. I would presonally use it as a travel guide when in that area. Very nicely captures the history of France from the 12th to the late 19th centuries through it's various architectural wonders still extant like Cathederals, Chateaux, Palaces, Forts. The criteria being, all of these should be a day trip from Paris not requiring an overnight stay.

Ina Caro takes the reader on daytrips from Paris to various historical sites that can be easily reached by train. Salted with stories about flamboyant characters of the French aristocracy and rulers both autocratic and ineffectual, this travel guide is organized chronologically, beginning with medieval fortresses, moving through fabulous Renaissance chateaus to some of the more infamous sites of the Revolution. Caro adds recommendations for restaurants and makes note of some pleasant sites show more for walks as well.

I've seen some of the sites mentioned on previous trips to France, but hope to add the cathedral of Chartres and the chateau Vaux le Vicomte to my next itinerary after reading this book! show less