Une Vie De Chien

It's a Dog's Life

by E. M. Spradbery and Odile Bellew (Illustrator)

Une Vie de Chien: It’s a Dog’s Life is a light-hearted, beautifully illustrated book, focussing on animal-related phrases in French and English.

If a French speaker says to you ‘faire ça ou peigner la girafe’, the literal meaning may cause you some confusion... They’re not asking you to ‘do this or comb a giraffe’, but rather asking you to do this or some other pointless task – how would you know? Similarly, if someone says ‘arriver comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles’, they’re saying ‘to turn up when least wanted/ needed’ rather than saying you’ve arrived like a dog in a game of skittles!

Consisting of 68 useful phrases that are sure to confuse any speaker trying to learn French, Une Vie de Chien is an essential read for those wanting to learn successfully the French language, as well as readers who love animals.

Author news

"False Friends: Faux Amis: Book Two" is now available. If you enjoy exploring the highways and byways of French language and French culture this book is for you: a light-hearted look at the words that could trip up the unwary traveller. Although not a new concept, False Friends (foreign words and phrases that look like one thing but mean another) has not been tackled for some time, and this version is fresh and original.
Did you know that "assister" means to attend and not to assist? Or that "attendre" means to wait and not to attend? After reading this book you will be better equipped to deal with life across the English Channel or, as our near neighbours will insist on calling it, "La Manche" (the sleeve).
The booklet displays a love of language, and is in six helpful sections.

http://www.elmalet.co.uk

Book Reviews

A simple, useful guide. J an a writer and have more than the basic level of understanding but this book still had helpful and insightful tips that I have picked up and used. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an entry level text on the subject.

by NetGalley review

About the Author

Ellie Malet Spradbery

Since retiring from Senate House London University library, Ellie spends her time travelling in France, eating French food and reading French books. I think one could safely call her a Francophile.