Welcome to Speak The Culture
A travel guide will tell you which parts of a country to visit, a language guide what to say when you get there; but only Speak the Culture will lead you to a nation’s soul. Music, food, cinema, history, national character, outlandish regional dancing – we’re talking about culture in its broadest sense.
Speak the Culture: France considers what it’s like to grow up with Camus, Cézanne, De Gaulle and Bardot. It captures the spirit of France, delving deep into the Gallic psyche, covering everything from the Jeanne d’Arc to the latest reality TV outrage.
- Which newspapers do the French read?
- How do they think?
- Why do you get dirty looks for the way you cut the cheese?
Speak the Culture: Spain, published in April 2008, does the same for Spain, from Moorish architecture to Basque cuisine, Goya’s paintings to the films of Almodóvar. Speak the Culture: Britain will be published in the autumn, and similar guides to China, Italy, USA and Japan are in preparation.
Because culture constantly evolves, Speak the Culture: Online serves as an extension of the books, keeping you up to date with the latest cultural developments in France, Spain and Britain. Regular blogs, lists, icons of the week and mini guides to music, film and literature will all keep you in the picture.
