Since the 1980s, France has experienced a vigorous revival of interest in its past and cultural heritage. This has been expressed as part of a movement of remembering through museums and festivals as well as via elaborate commemorations, most notably those held to celebrate the bi-centenary of the Revolution in 1989 and can be interpreted as part of a re-examination of what it means to be French in the context of ongoing Europeanization. This study brings together scholars from multidisciplinary backgrounds and engages them in debate with professionals from France, who are working in the fields of museology, heritage and cultural production. Addressing subjects such as war and memory, gastronomy and regional identity, maritime culture and urban societies, they throw fresh light on the process by which France has been conceptualized and packaged as a cultural object.

Since the 1980s, France has experienced a vigorous revival of interest in its past and cultural heritage. This has been expressed as part of a movement of remembering through museums and festivals as well as via elaborate commemorations, most notably those held to celebrate the bi-centenary of the Revolution in 1989 and can be interpreted as part of a re-examinaton of what it means to be French in the context of ongoing Europeanization. This study brings together scholars from multidisciplinary backgrounds and engages them in debate with professionals from France, who are working in the fields of museology, heritage and cultural production. Addressing subjects such as war and memory, gastronomy and regional identity, maritime culture and urban societies, they throw fresh light on the process by which France has been conceptualized and packaged as a cultural object.

"Francotheque" seeks to provide a French-language resource for undergraduate students of French. Direct access to contemporary French culture and society is offered through carefully selected authentic texts and a comprehensive overview of France and the French is provided under six broad headings - history, multicultural society, media, the arts, science and technology, the Francophone world - through press articles, historical documents, photographs, posters, advertisements, statistics, poems and songs. Each section starts with an introduction. The authentic texts are accompanied by vocabulary notes, and where appropriate, explanations filling in cultural background. One of the features of the book is the "sujets de reflexion", which provide pre-reading stimulus, thus suggesting a particular context of focus from which to approach many of the contexts.

Developed for intermediate learners, The French Experience 2 CDs are designed to accompany The French Experience 2 course book (9780563519096) but can also be used on their own to develop your listening and speaking skills. The course focuses on the standard French of France but also travels further afield to introduce learners to the richness and diversity of the French-speaking world. You'll also gain valuable insights into the culture of France and French-speaking countries such as Vietnam and Switzerland. Packed with language explanations and opportunities for listening, understanding and speaking, the five CDs include real-life conversations and interviews in French to show the spoken language in everyday use. These five 75-minute CDs are also available to buy as part of a pack which includes the 224-page course book (9781406678482).

This highly successful intermediate course has now been revised and updated in a new edition, to include the euro and other key changes around the French-speaking world. The course is designed for those who have a basic knowledge of French and is ideal for anyone who followed the successful 'French Experience 1' or any other course for beginners. The fully illustrated course book is divided into ten units. Each unit contains dialogues, authentic texts, explanations of key language and a wide variety of activities including extended reading and listening passages. The course focuses on the standard French but also introduces intermediate learners to the richness and diversity of the French-speaking world in New Caledonia, Vietnam, Senegal, Tunisia, Quebec, Belgium, Switzerland and Guadeloupe.