"A witty guide to idiomatic French written in 1927 by a remarkable author identified for decades only as 'H-T-R-'. -- 'H-T-R- doesn't just want you to parrot French phrases. The essential of fluent speech is to think as the French do. As he says, it won't do just to formulate in English what you want to say and then utter a translation. Those who have reached a good level in French (or, indeed, any language) will recognize the hurdle of idiomaticity - the native speakers always have a way of saying things which is different from your correct but painfully generated French.'[ - Elsevier SYSTEM MAGAZINE (2010), Robert Vanderplank, Director, Language Centre, University of Oxford]. -- Example: [1] 'What did he die of?' 'Nobody knows. But then nobody knew what he lived on, either.' [1] ""De quoi est-il mort ? -- On ne sait pas. D'ailleurs on ne savait non plus de quoi il vivait.""
-- Or (to illustrate a use of the subjunctive): [53] 'One moment, Monsieur - I can't see you. I'm in my chemise.' 'Take your time, my dear, I'll wait till you take it off.' [53] ""Un instant, Monsieur - je ne peux pas vous recevoir. Je suis en chemise. -- Prenez tout votre temps, chere amie, j'attendrai que vous l'ayez retire.""
-- New extended edition, with new biographies (including 28 photos) of the author, Harry Thompson Russell, and of the illustrator, Eric Fraser. Contains all of the original 1927 drawings, plus many new drawings by Fraser, who was one of the leading illustrators of the 20th Century.
Equally suitable for French or English speakers -- 'Ces ouvrages ont le merite de servir egalement a l'usage des francophones et des anglophones.'"
By:
Harry Thompson Russell
Illustrated by:
Eric Fraser
Imprint: Phaeton Publishing Limited
Country of Publication: Ireland
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
Volume: v. 1
Dimensions:
Height: 178mm,
Width: 110mm,
Spine: 18mm
Weight: 259g
ISBN: 9780955375675
ISBN 10: 0955375673
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 01 May 2010
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Language: French
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
[CHAPTER 1] A PRELIMINARY CANTER ('Un petit galop') -- SOME TABLE TALK ('Quelques propos de table') on life, love, drink, crime & gambling (from French literature of the 1920s); -- [CHAPTER 2] A FEW LITTLE STORIES ('Quelques petites histoires'): Gossip ('Potins'), Definitions & Riddles ('Definitions & Enigmes'); -- [CHAPTER 3] A LITTLE TRIP TO PARIS ('La Passade a Paris, en six actes'): Getting There (in six Acts), At the Couture House, At Monsieur's Tailor, The Telephone (& telephoning); -- [CHAPTER 4] TWO WONDERFUL VERBS ('Deux verbes merveilleux'): 'Faire' (210 specimens) & 'Porter' (30 specimens); -- [CHAPTER 5] USEFUL TIPS ('Le Mot juste'): When ('quand, lorsque - '), More ('davantage, plus que, de plus - '), 'Sur' (on, over, in, across, to - ), Half ('la moitie, le demi - '), Compound adjectives: 'Tout' and its peculiarities, 'Dans, en, a - ' (& place-names), 'Oui, non, si, ne - pas, point - ', Belgian French; -- [CHAPTER 6] MORE TABLE TALK ('Autres propos de table'): 236 Idiomatic Sentences ('236 phrases idiomatiques - en anglais & francais') from French literature of the period; -- [CHAPTER 7] AT THE RACES, POLICE & FIRE BRIGADE, and MOTORING [of 1927] ('Aux courses, Police & Pompiers,& L'Automobilisme de 1927); -- [CHAPTER 8] STILL MORE TABLE TALK ('Autres propos de table'): Another 236 Idiomatic Sentences ('236 phrases idiomatiques supplementaires') from French literature of the period; -- [CHAPTER 9] CORRESPONDENCE, TITLES & STYLES ('Correspondance, Titres & Qualites'): Correspondence -- Letters, beginnings & endings etc., Addresses, telegrams, etc. -- Titles & Styles -- 'Monsieur, Madame' etc., Surnames ('Noms de famille'), Titles of Royalty & Nobility, Ambassadors, Ecclesiastics etc., Naval & Military Ranks; -- [CHAPTER 10] Photo Gallery, Acknowledgements & Sources.
Reviews for Brighter French: Colloquial and Idiomatic for Bright Young People (who already
"' - And what wonderful, idiomatic gems he provides for us (with tongue firmly in cheek) under topic headings such as 'A Little Trip to Paris', 'More Table Talk', 'Useful Tips' (some good grammatical points), Two Wonderful Verbs ('faire' and 'porter'). - The phrases ring constantly true. I can hear my French colleagues speaking like this: 'il faut que je me sauve. On m'attend.' (I must fly. They're waiting for me). The section on motoring in 1927 is not just of historical interest - several of the phrases would have come in very handy recently when I was in South-West France. - Our Language Library shelves at Oxford are stacked high with textbooks which meet the criteria for being notional-functional, communicative, or content-based, which are full of worthy tasks, pair and group work suggestions, practical vocabulary for doing and saying things, exercises and more exercises. But few courses these days have what might be called intrinsically interesting or amusing content which might engage learners in any real sense of the word. H-T-R is attempting to genuinely engage his learners. When did readers last read a really good dialogue in a language textbook with a real sense of conversation and a good punchline? For those with faltering school French, these books provide a breath of fresh air, quite a few laughs and some really useful idiomatic French - '[ - Elsevier SYSTEM MAGAZINE (2010), Robert Vanderplank, Director, Language Centre, University of Oxford]. -- ' - that brilliant anonymous volume Brighter French reveals very clearly the idiomatic raciness of the French language and the essential humanity of those who speak it.'[ - N. Scarlyn Wilson, in the Preface of TEACH YOURSELF FRENCH (in its 36th impression 1980)]. -- ' - when you start to read, you giggle. This naughty guide to flappers' French is full of useful phrases. - This is your ticket to gay Paree.'[ - EVENING HERALD (2011)]. -- 'one of the best French language books ever written.'[ - WILTSHIRE TIMES (2010)]. -- ' - Great Fun.'[ - Books Ireland (2010)]. -- 'One's only fear is that a complete absorption of its contents might result in the ""Bright Young People (who already know some)"" knowing a trifle too much!'[ - JOHN O'LONDON'S WEEKLY (1927)]."
