سیزدهمین مجلد از کتابهای « ملل امروز » به کشور فرانسه اختصاص دارد ، کشوری که همه چیز در آن فراوان است . این سرزمین بسیاری از بزرگترین چهرههای تاریخی جهان را در خود پرورانده است و تاریخ آن مهمترین وقایع فرهنگی ، اجتماعی ، و سیاسی جهان را در بر دارد . امروزه فرانسه در سراسر جهان به دلیل غذاها ، مد و هنرش زبانزد است . بدون شک پاریس نماد اصلی فرانسه و مرکز فرهنگ ، تاریخ و زندگی معاصر این کشور است ، اما در واقع تنوع و فراوانی بسیاری را که در این کشور وجود دارد ، در خارج از مرزهای این شهر بزرگ میتوان درک کرد . پاریس یکی از زیباترین و جالب توجهترین شهرهای جهان است . میتوان با در دست داشتن بلیتهای قطار زیرزمینی ( مترو ) یک روز یا تمام عمر را به بازدید از مکانهای دیدنی این شهر پرداخت . فرانسه فرهنگهای منطقهای متنوعی نیز دارد . هنوز هم بخشهایی در فرانسه وجود دارند که گویش مردم آنجا برای اهالی سایر نقاط به سختی قابل فهم است و آنها کارهای روزمرهشان را غالباً به همان صورتی انجام میدهند که اجدادشان انجام میدادند و در روزهای جشن لباسهای سنتی به تن میکنند . کتاب « فرانسه » به خواننده اطلاعات متنوعی درباره نوع حکومت ، بخش قانونگذاری ، جغرافیا ، مردمشناسی ، اقتصاد ، حمل و نقل و ارتباطات و نیروی نظامی این کشور میدهد
I have loved reading and writing ever since my older sister came home from first grade to teach me what she had learned that day. My first publications were in the Oakland Tribune in a weekly section for children called "Aunt Elsie's Page," and a newspaper I put out for my family which featured reviews of what I was reading and news about what was happening in the lives of my dolls.
I was lucky enough to have parents who encouraged me from the beginning, and who showed their support by giving up much of what they must have wanted for themselves so my sister and I could get the best possible education. As a result, by the time I graduated from The Bishop's School in 1967 and enrolled as an English major at the University of California at Davis, I had come to appreciate that good writing is extraordinarily difficult but well worth the effort. I couldn't believe I could get a degree by devouring novels and poetry in bed in my pajamas, and writing papers on ideas that burned in me as I read, but it turned out to be largely true. Graduate school at the University of Chicago (MA 1972) and again at Davis (Ph.D, 1982) followed.
Professionally, early in my career I was both an instructor and an administrator of academic support programs at San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego. I came to San Diego City College in 1990, first as a dean and then as a full-time professor of English and Humanities. I also freelanced in the 1990s, writing approximately 20 Young Adult titles for Lucent Books.
Lately, i have been enjoying the opportunity to serve as an enrichment lecturer on Silversea Cruises, and in my spare time, I am an avid tennis player, novice golfer, voracious reader, and a pretty good chef.