The Riches of France [Paperback]

Maribeth Clemente (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1997

Whether you're a shopper, a browser, or a traveler with a love for all things French, this is your one-of-a-kind guidebook to the culture of regional France represented by the products and centuries-old craftsmanship of each region. At prices lower than what you would pay in Paris or the United States, you'll find endless treasures as you your boutiques, small factories, artisans' workshops, and wineries and distilleries:

--Handmade paper in Auvergne
--Moorish music boxes in Corsica
--Artwork in the Cote d'Azur
--Tapestries in the Limousin
--Wine in the Loire Valley
--Glasswork in Lorraine
--Silk clothing in Lyons
--Faience in the Western Loire
--and much more, including where to find "the best of the provinces" in Paris

Complete with details on exchange rates, shipping, French customs, touring, and restaurant and hotel selections, The Riches of France is an indispensable sourecbook for exploring every province of France.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Other guidebooks will tell you where to eat, where to sleep, and what to see, but The Riches of France is the guidebook for those travelers who were born to shop. Looking for handmade paper? Try Auvergne. Glasswork? Look no further than Lorraine. Wine? The Loire Valley is the place to go. Author Maribeth Clemente knows both her bargains and her geography and her book is designed to take the guesswork out of shopping. In deciding what regions and products to feature, Clemente was guided by "the idea that each purchase should reflect an important dimension or flavor of the region." She covers everything from French "classics" such as Limoges china to local crafts to antiques to wine--in short, anything France does well is likely to show up in the pages of this book, be it fancy linen or homemade honey. So if you're planning on bringing home a little bit of France the next time you go, take The Riches of France with you, and let your fingers do the walking through its information-packed pages.

From Library Journal

Clemente (Chic Shopper's Guide to Paris, St. Martin's, 1991) has written another wonderful book about shopping in France. After covering the essentials of planning?from when to go, to tallying exchange rates, to packing tips?she takes on in turn the different regions of France, with emphasis on the products that "best capture the flavor of a particular region." From the exquisite handmade lace of Alencon to the tapenade of Opio, the reader learns how to find souvenirs and treasures that reflect memories of the author's time spent in France. Writing in a humorous first-person voice and scattering plenty of anecdotes, Clemente takes the reader on a wild shopping spree, stopping along the way for refreshment and lodgings that also suggest local charm. For every market, boutique, restaurant, or bed-and-breakfast mentioned, Clemente provides address, phone number, and other essential information. A shopping glossary explains French terms. A true delight to read; recommended for public libraries.?Stephanie Papa, Baltimore Cty. Circuit Court Law Lib., Md.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 362 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (July 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312156405
• ISBN-13: 978-0312156404
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,047,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maribeth Clemente ~ The Expert on Cultural Travel!!, May 1, 2003

By 

Carol Bonow (Milford, N. H.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Riches of France (Paperback)

I have used The Riches of France countless times on tours that I conduct through France and have found it to enhance my travels immensely! What I like is that from the beginning and throughout the whole book, it is clear that Maribeth's main objective is to report on the history and tradition behind France's most celebrated goods. It is not necessarily a book for die-hard shoppers in search of outstanding bargains at every destinations. ( Although I am certain many shopaholics have rejoiced in using it!!) The Riches of France is , however, a book for curious aspects of French culture, savoir faire, and craftsmanship.)

For me, many of the suggested visits in this book provided unique experiences that I would never have found on my own. Maribeth offers visitors a rare glimpse of fine French craftsmanship and tradition so different from anything here at home. Amd, unlike many other guidebooks, The Riches of France will never go out of date as most of the places featured here have been around for hundreds of years!!... Carol Bonow , Milford, N.H.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wild goose chase without finding a golden egg, August 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Riches of France (Paperback)

I recently traveled to the Normandy and Loire Valley regions in France. I am a passionate shopper and love to find unusual items, simple or extravagant. The book sounded perfect for my adventurous shopping stamina. I have to say that unusual is becoming more and more difficult to find. In the states we are saturated with foreign items that used to seem novel. I guess I have become jaded. I traveled to the suggested village where the basketry industry has thrived for 150 years. Although it was charming to drive through the country, the trip was not worth the while. Not that the baskets were not beautiful, they were very expensive and not worth spending 10 times more because it was made in this charming town. Baskets sold are the varieties available at Cost Plus or Pier One Imports. I must admit I did buy one. Again, I traveled to the town where copper is made. They have all the copper pots that we have in the US and really not that much cheaper if you shipped it overseas. I was disappointed with the suggestions offered in this book. It was not worth my vacation time to hunt these areas down and find what we have in the states. This experience makes me want to write my own book on the subject. It was a wild goose chase which I wouldn't have minded if we had found a golden egg.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riches of France, July 8, 2001

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Riches of France (Paperback)

This turned out to be the best guide I cold ever take with me to France. Comprehensive and easy to use. The author seems to know what is most relevant to visitors and shoppers of France. I wish she would write guides to all major shopping capitals of the world. Highly recommended!