Touche: French Woman's Take On The English, A

Description: A brilliant and vigorous observer of both French and British societies, which she knows intimately, 32-year-old Agnes Catherine Poirier has spent the last ten years explaining the peculiarities of France to the British and of Britain to the French. Not an easy job. Having studied both in Paris and London, writing in both languages for the French and British press, Agnes Catherine Poirier plays with national stereotypes, which are both stupid and dangerous, with dexterity and savoir faire. She goes beneath the surface to explain why France and Britain keep arguing and competing endlessly, why they are so different and why they do things in almost opposite ways. Covering the worlds of art, politics, action, food, institutions, sex, history, media, society and philosophy, she tells us as much about us as why France is a nation apart. Revenge for tabloid attacks on France or for British expats' invasions of Brittany and the Dordogne? You decide. But this will entertain and educate all readers about their own country and whether its 'entente' with La Belle France is 'cordiale' or not. You may disagree with her but you may never see yourself in the same way again.

Review: 'The funniest frog in print.' DAILY MAIL 'Perhaps it doesn't sound like much fun to be set straight on everything... by a French "intellectual"... Strangely, it is.' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Politics, society, food, art... are all discussed with a cheerful wit, backed up by... more serious historical and philosophical observations.' NEW STATESMAN 'This funny and fascinating bid to uncover the differences between us Brits and the French... is full of side-splitting observations.' OK! Magazine 'Poirier is a wind-up merchant, opinionated, French and severely witty... writes beautiful, clear, neatly measured English... lively sardonic, always poised' THE SCOTSMAN 'interesting and entertaining... A great read: insightful, intelligent and above all funny.' FRENCH MAGAZINE 'perhaps the most fascinating thing about this book is ... what it tells us about France.' THE SPECTATOR



Author Biography: Writer and broadcaster Agnes Catherine Poirier is primarily a political journalist and film critic for Liberation, Telerama and a regular commentator for The Guardian and the BBC. www.touche-thebook.com