The French Chateau: Life, Style, Tradition (Paperback)

~ Christiane De Nicolay-Mazery (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The subtitle aptly depicts the content of this photo essay, which reveals intimate details of family life in the French chateau of today. We are invited inside the princely residences of several contemporary French families to catch a glimpse of their way of life. No architectural odyssey this; often we're not even shown a picture of the chateau itself. But what treasures await us inside! A cook ushers us into the kitchen, a maid takes us on a tour of the linen room, a butler allows us to view the china cabinet. Then we sit down to dinner with crystal goblets ablaze from the candles illuminating the entire room. Naudin's dazzling photographs also lead us outside to the kitchen gardens, a hunt, and a formal wedding. Though anecdotal historical commentary is provided for each chateau, a fairy-tale quality pervades these settings; often, we don't even know their location on the map. Recommended for readers who enjoy a look at the good life.
- Edward B. Cone, New York
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From The Washington Post

An intimate glimpse of life ....the reader takes in the most special of French rituals.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500282714
• ISBN-13: 978-0500282717
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #548,042 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A life to dream of, November 24, 2001

By A Customer

If you love French history, art, decoration and life style; if you have ever dreamed of living in a beautiful French chateau, you must get this book. Each time I open this book I am enchanted. What makes this book especially interesting is that people still live in these chateaus, these dreamscapes of tall Mansart roofs, formal French gardens and rooms filled with 18th century furniture. Forget about the text, it's the ravishingly photographed gardens and interiors that inspire one to dream. Beyond the sheer fantasy of it, this book showed me how I could create a little of the "French Chateau Style" in my own humble living space.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The French Chateau: Life, Style, Tradition, June 9, 2006

By	Another reader (USA) - See all my reviews

Christiane De Nicolay-Mazery is a fabulous author with fabulous connections. I'm an interior designer & I find Christiane De Nicolay-Mazery's books to be the most inspirational decorating books that I own. One of her other books, 'Private Houses of Paris', is my favorite book on the topic of decorating and I own almost every significant book published on this topic. I do wish that this book was available in hardback, as I prefer hardback books, but this fact should not dissuade you in purchasing it because inspirational design is absolutely on every page of this book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French Chateau Home Life, March 27, 2007

By	Wine Babe (Los Gatos, CA) - See all my reviews

An unusual and beautifully published book that profiles privately-owned chateaux, inside and out. It gives you an intimate view of life within the rooms, formal and informal, utility and casual, garden and forest. Family and friends are included from a respectable distance, showing weekend sporting activities and day to day life. Snobbish? Unapproachable? Not really. Think of it as a personable Architectural Digest a la Francaise, with much more panache.