France

In the seventeenth century, writes Andrew Trout, the river was a main artery for Parisian supplies, and over its use arose many complex city disputes.

Before his reconciliation with Richelieu in 1631, writes J.H.M. Salmon, the Huguenot Rohan was one of the more turbulent and skilful magnates of France.

Barbara Scott describes how a tutor to royal princesses and to the Bonaparte family, Henriette Campan, became a pioneer of girl's education in France.

The Duc de Rohan, write D.C. Norwood and G.A. Rothrock, returned from his Venetian exile to be given an important command by Cardinal Richelieu.

Poet, novelist, journalist and international commentator; Joanna Richardson portrays Théophile Gautier, a man who typifies the restless energy of the social period in which he lived.

Joanna Richardson portrays one of the greatest of nineteenth-century pictorial journalists, Constantin Guys; a remarkably perceptive artist, to whom Charles Baudelaire consecrated his most famous work in prose.

‘A sort of giant’, with immensely long arms and legs and a mop of bristling red hair, Felix Nadar employed his creative gifts in several different arts and sciences.

‘The poor King was thoroughly French in character, possessing all the liveliness and talkativeness of that people.’ So wrote Queen Victoria about the King of the French. Joanna Richardson offers her portrait of the man at the head of the July Monarchy, whose reign lasted from 1830 until 1848.

Joanna Richardson describes the life and work of the French father of science fiction.

Though he exercised little political influence, Victor Hugo’s genius and his ardent championship of liberty had made him a legendary figure long before his death.