France's Forgotten Past

France's fields of sunflowers, hillsides of grapevines, and salty coastlines have provided the perfect setting for a millennium of colorful, surprising history. But beyond the artists and writers, the revolutionary battles, and opulent royal courts, there are secret islands, warring queens, and hidden labyrinths to be found. This well-researched and original book uncovers chapters of France's history outside of the mainstream, starting at ancient civilizations and ending in a modern-day metropolis.

Across thirty-two chronological chapters, Katherine Pangonis shifts the historical focus to the people and places that played a part in this country's multifaceted history and have since been misplaced or misunderstood—until now. Through the struggles and triumphs, the pain and joy portrayed in these stories, Pangonis shows us that French history is anything but straightforward. From ancient princesses to courtesans of the Belle Époque, from Caribbean colonies to the banks of the Seine, this book leaves no stone unturned in exploring the dense, tangled, and bumpy history of France.