Book Categories

Description of Almost French

As a student at University, Sarah Turnbull dropped French after failing the subject during her first year. Then, during a career break from journalism to travel the world, she finds herself changing her plans to settle permanently in Paris. Almost French is the witty account of her new life in Paris and the difficulties she faces in trying to integrate fully into Parisian culture while trying to establish herself as a freelance journalist.

She gives the reader a fascinating insight into her love/hate relationship with the French through humorous examples of run-ins with her new countrymen. Everything from using the correct language and etiquette to address everyone from the local baker to a senior figure in the French Ministry of Defence, from how you laugh and what you serve on your dinner table, to what you wear, all prove vital to being accepted as one of them. Finally, as the title suggests, Sarah succeeds in becoming "almost French".

A classic story of what happens when the brash New World's tectonic plates crash against those of Europe, Almost French was a No 1 bestseller for ten weeks in Australia, with sales in excess of 150,000 copies.

Title Information

ISBN:

9781857883169

Pages:

320 pages

Format:

Paperback

Product Code:

19721

Publisher:

Nicholas Brealey Publishing

Published:

30/07/2003

Press and Industry Reviews

"Turnbull pulls no punches when it comes to describing life among her new countrymen and is refreshingly direct about her own failings as perceived by the Parisians. Required reading for anyone contemplating a spot of French leave."
Marie Claire

"An entertaining tale of being a fish out of water in one of the most magical cities in the world."
Everything France

"A funny, heart-warming, romantic and poignant tale of fitting in, which I think will appeal to the latest generation of Francophiles dreaming of starting a new life in France."
Living France

Write a review of this book

Customer Reviews from Amazon

About Sarah Turnbull

Sarah Turnbull is an international freelance writer. Formerly a television journalist with SBS, she began working in print media after moving to France from Sydney eight years ago. Since then she has been writing regularly; in the 1998 MPA awards Sarah was named Feature Writer of the Year for three investigative stories published in marie claire. As a student at the Australian National University, Sarah studied Politics, Fine Art and French. She dropped French after failing the subject during her first year.