You live at Versailles in 1658. You're nobility of the blood. You know the King. What drugs, drinks, or other ways of getting totally fucked up are available to you? How often could you partake before people started to Have A Problem with it? [more inside]
posted by The Whelk on Sep 20, 2009 - 21 answers

I'd appreciate help with some terms from 14-16c (apx) France. The translations don't tell me about the social hierarchy or give any context. Thanks for any help you can give here. Or point me to an English-language explanation. Here goes: guidon, marechal, chevalier, seigneur, ecuyer. licencie en droit, chatellenie. sieur, chambellan, sire, noble homme. Sorry for lack of accents.
posted by sevenstars on Nov 11, 2008 - 10 answers

What are some good books in English about French history and culture? [more inside]
posted by b1tr0t on Oct 20, 2008 - 11 answers

Tété-Michel Kpomassie: where is he now? Whatever happened to him? I can't find other books by him after An African in Greenland; I've read he eventually received French citizenship and lives there now - but what does he do? He must have written other books or articles, right? Anyone know?
posted by luriete on Sep 3, 2008 - 3 answers

How do I found out about books, museums, exhibitions, and artifacts relating to Buddhism in Paris in the 1920s? [more inside]
posted by arcadia on Oct 19, 2007 - 3 answers

I'm looking for some books on European history during the 1800s. I'm specifically interested in Russia from the Decemberists to the 1917 revolution, and the French student revolution of 1848. [more inside]
posted by pombe on Apr 26, 2007 - 8 answers

'The Flâneur': What fascinating titbits can you add to my knowledge about this concept? Art, history, philosophy and literary theory links all welcome. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Oct 25, 2006 - 22 answers

Follow-up to a question I asked earlier : Has anyone read any "short" histories of France that they would recommend? [more inside]
posted by grapefruitmoon on Jun 4, 2005 - 8 answers

Anyone know of any good books, plays, or other material about Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, a.k.a. "Mademoiselle Nation"? She was an eleven-year-old girl adopted by the French revolutionaries after her father's murder by a royalist. Her portrait by Jacques-Louis David is currently on display at the Getty in Los Angeles, and as the book blog Romancing the Tome says the story of her life would make for excellent reading. Surely she's found her way into print by now?
posted by Asparagirl on Mar 18, 2005 - 3 answers

I've just reduced my book queue to a puny six or seven, I'm looking to pile a little something on, and a bookstore just opened within walking distance. I'm in the mood for a good history of the French Revolution. Any recommendations?
posted by furiousthought on Sep 1, 2004 - 4 answers