A Motor-Flight Through France

In the early years of the 20th Century, Edith Wharton took the road trip of a lifetime across France with the celebrated author, Henry James (author of 'Turn of the Screw,' later adapted for TV, featuring 'Downton Abbey' star Michelle Dockery). Accompanied by Edith's husband, their chauffeur, and Wharton's two dogs, they travelled the French countryside, stopping wherever inspiration struck.

The result, 'A Motor-Flight Through France,' is a chronicle of the French villages, towns, and cities they visited. Wharton, with an innate appreciation for architecture, perfectly captures the beauty of turn-of-the-century France, detailing their stop-offs with evocative descriptions. From the food, they ate to the people they met, 'A Motor-Flight Through France' is an important chronicle of the country at a time when Italy was setting its military sites on it. A superb read for Wharton fans, and those with an interest in history and travel.