France, A Love Story, edited by Camille Cusumano, Seal Press, Emeryville, Calif.
What is it about France that so captivates the imagination? For many Americans, a love of France and all things French started in school, while mastering the seductive sounds of the language. Others were fascinated by the idea of France’s exalted culture; for them, it represented above all a different way of life, filled with luxe, calme et volupté. Later on, when they made summer trips or settled there, they came to appreciate how fully the French character resounded with their own sensibilities.
In this poignant collection, twenty-five contemporary women writers share their firsthand experiences with the people, landscape, flavors, history, art, culture, and particular joie de vivre of this enchanted land. These stories tell not just of a deep love for France, but also of the pain and joy of discovering new dimensions to their very selves. The voices represented in France, a Love Story are varied, witty, and inimitable. They include, among others, M.F.K Fisher’s colorful description of her first days in Dijon, Ayun Halliday’s irreverent account of her visit to a Parisian fashion show, and Alice Kaplan’s funny and sexy story of a summer fling with a young Frenchman. In her own unique way, each contributor seeks to express what anyone who has been there knows: that there is something about France that always stays with you.