Excellent writing and research. I have taught French for 34 years and am also a historian - modestly said. This book weaves unknown facts about the best wines and the simplest cooking ingredients (sea salt) with history of France. Finally confirmed in print here that the languages "oc" and "oil" did actually divide simply in the way to say "oui" = "yes".
It takes a passion for both to read - but, for the scholar- will rekindle your desire to explore unknown places - like Monsegur - the last siege of the Cathars - and others. While the reader is directed to Guerande in Brittany to discover the white chrystals of sea salt - I wonder about the salt of Aigues-Mortes - in Provence. The best of this type of research is to explore new questions.
