Touche

Why France and Britain are so different, and why they do things in opposite ways.

A brilliant and vigorous observer of both French and British societies, which she knows intimately, 32-year-old Agnes Catherine Poirier has spent the last ten years explaining the peculiarities of France to the British and of Britain to the French. Not an easy job.

Having studied both in Paris and London, writing in both languages for the French and British press, Agnes Catherine Poirier plays with national stereotypes, which are both stupid and dangerous, with dexterity and savoir faire. She goes beneath the surface to explain why France and Britain keep arguing and competing endlessly, why they are so different and why they do things in almost opposite ways.

Covering the worlds of art, politics, action, food, institutions, sex, history, media, society and philosophy, she tells us as much about us as why France is a nation apart.

Revenge for tabloid attacks on France or for British expats'' invasions of Brittany and the Dordogne? You decide. But this will entertain and educate all readers about their own country and whether its ''entente'' with La Belle France is ''cordiale'' or not.

You may disagree with her but you may never see yourself in the same way again.