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River Doubs, Besançon, France.

© Patrick. CC BY-SA 2.0. Source

Charles Dickens 1812-1870

My being on the Dover line, and my being very fond of France, occasion me to cross the Channel perpetually. Whenever I feel that I have worked too much, or am on the eve of over-doing it, and want a change, away I go by the mail-train, and turn up in Paris or anywhere else that suits my humour, next morning.

Letter, 1864

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France

Stories about our friends across the Channel, from Roman times to the Hundred Years’ War, her bloody Revolution, and the giddying rise and fall of Emperor Napoleon.

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There are twenty-nine posts in The Copy Book tagged France. To see all our posts, go to the Archive.

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Most Recent A-Z Shuffle

1

Tree of Life

By Edith Louise Marsh

Jacques Cartier made history and made friends along the St Lawrence, but then threw all that goodwill away.

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Picture: © Katie Thebeau, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0 generic.. Source.

Posted November 28 2024

2

The Oath of Harold Godwinson

By Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall

William the Conqueror’s chaplain used to tell this story to those who doubted his master’s claim to the English crown.

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Picture: From the Bayeux Tapestry, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.. Source.

Posted November 18 2024

3

A Hot Tip

By Benjamin Disraeli

Benjamin Disraeli revealed the secret behind holding one’s place at the top of Parisian society.

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Picture: © Rauantiques, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.. Source.

Posted November 8 2024

4

Rest Cure

By Charles Dickens

Whenever Charles Dickens felt his exhausting workload was starting to take its toll, he knew just what to do.

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Picture: By the Revd Thomas Streatfield (1777-1848), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.. Source.

Posted November 8 2024

5

A Credit to His Country

By François de Callières

The diplomat’s task is to see the best in other peoples, not to scold them for their failings.

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Picture: © Reda Kerbush, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.. Source.

Posted December 28 2023

6

Émilie’s Plan

By Antoine Marie Chamans, Comte de Lavalette

The night before the Comte de Lavalette was to be executed, his wife Émilie came to visit him with a proposal that left him speechless.

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Picture: By an Anonymous artist (1816), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

Posted October 14 2023

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How I Met Nastenka The story-teller recalls his first meeting with Nastenka, and the man who brought them together.

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