Vieux moulins de France
Full details
| English title | Old mills of France |
| Authors & editors | |
| Publisher | Éditions de l’Ibis |
| Year of publication | 1948 |
| Languages | French (main text) |
| Medium | Book |
| Edition | 1 |
| Topics | |
| Tags | |
| Scope & content | Summary Translation A book on the history of mills, mostly windmills in France. It is part of the Collection “Les richesses artistiques de la France” (the rich art of France collection). Includes a foreward by Monsieur Lucien Brisson, the president of the national association of French flour mills (Président de l’Association Nationale de la Meunerie Française). The introduction, written by- gives an introduction on windmills, their mechanisms, the unique features of French windmills, for example their shape. Also discusses their different uses-windmills for grinding wheat, oil mills, tanbark (wood). Also paper, weaving, dyeing factories. Includes a section on mills in history, and gives a few specific examples and key dates. For example: In 1346, Crécy Mill (mill at Crécy) in the Somme served as the French observatory on the King of England, Edward III. Includes dates associated with Joan of Arc. In 1761, Rosière mill was attacked by English forces and abandoned. Also mentions the first sighting of a windmill in England. Includes a section on mills featured in paintings and artwork throughout history. Mostly featured as silhouettes in the distance rather than paintings dedicated to them. There are few paintings in art galleries or museums that one cannot find hints of sails. However the book also includes many illustrations of windmills; paintings and drawings. The drawings are named and listed in order. Information such as the dates of their construction, other significant dates, and, in some cases, their decline. Includes a section on French poems throughout history. Includes a poem, amongst others, by Théo Varlet, who portrays work at a mill as unhappy, or monotonous. Includes a verse by Maurice Pompidou on the sounds that one can hear when a mill is working, and the silence when work ceases. Also has a section on mills in songs. Discusses the opera L’Attaque du Moulin by Alfred Bruneau. Includes songs from the opera, such as Meunier tu dors (Flour mill, you sleep/ lie dormant). Also includes other examples of mills in songs, for example Le Petit Moulin, by Pierre Jardaille, which is considered a mill of legends. The book does not include all the lyrics for each song but includes significant extracts (usually one verse of each). Includes a section on Don Quichotte “the worst enemy of mills”. Also has information on the decline of mills. |
Copies held
Accession no. 229296
- Shelf location: OVER-PIC
- Donor: Ken Major Collection