Les Français (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Laurence Wylie (Author), Jean-Francois Briere (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 30, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0130307742 | ISBN-13: 978-0130307743 | Edition: 3

This book helps North Americans better understand the French by taking an in-depth look at French culture, and using history and cultural anthropology to illuminate the present. It offers an interpretation of some historical roots of French attitudes and institutions, as well as the changes in French society over the past three decades, to suggest and predict patterns of behavior. Offering a comparative outlook, this book provides a framework—for those with an advanced command of the French language—to describe France and the French in relation to others and to themselves. Chapter topics explore French points of view, family structures, the structure of society, religion, and more. For individuals with a good understanding of the French language—looking for a better understanding of everything else French.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: French

From the Publisher

Les Français was published in its first edition in 1970 to help North Americans better understand the French people. In order to provide depth of perspective, Drs. Wylie and Briçre offer an interpretation of some historical roots of French behavior and institutions as well as the changes in French society over the past three decades to suggest and predict patterns of behavior. Offering a comparative outlook, Les Français attemps to provide a framework that post-intermediate students can use to describe France and the French in relation to others and to themselves. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 374 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3 edition (December 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130307742
• ISBN-13: 978-0130307743
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #588,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent insight!, January 19, 2001

By 

Josh fowler (Ogden, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Les Français (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

This book gives excellent insight into the differences between the French and the American. The authors do an excellent job of describing and explaining the influences on French children and young adults that form their societal views on the world. Each section gives excellent description of essential differences and similarities between the two on the various aspects of life, including body language, history, weather, etc. It also helps if you read French fluently.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars for the serious intermediate student, September 10, 2007

By 

Daniel Coverdale "emaddog" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Les Français (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

Les Francais by Laurence Wylie is worth its textbook price for the serious intermediate student of French. Meticulously edited so that its material is coherant, demanding and ultimately accessible, it offers intelligent and objective commentary on the history and current trends of contemporary French culture. As an adult student of French language (and hence to some degree an autodidact) I hesitated before buying the book, partly due to its price and partly due to my concern that a textbook might not be useful outside a classroom environment. Yet among all the useful books on French language and culture I've bought, it's probably the best value and the best use of my time I've encountered.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for intermediate French students, May 17, 2011

By 

Lynnerz76 "Lynnerz76" (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Les Français (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

This book was used for a 300-level college French course. It primarily discusses modern French culture, and makes some comparisons between French and U.S. culture. The book itself is written entirely in French, but every once in a blue moon there are italicized words in English, indicating that this book is meant for English-speakers who are learning about France. There are a bunch of photos (black and white), and the back of the book has several discussion questions and review questions ("Qui a dit quoi?") for each chapter. Overall, a very good textbook for anyone who speaks French.