Channel Islands (Insight Guide)

Victor Hugo, who lived in Guernsey as exile for 16 years, called the Channel Islands "pieces of France which fell into the sea and were gathered up by England". It's still a seductive definition. Today the ambiance is French; the language and culture English. Feudal traditions linger alongside the 20th-century financial institutions attracted by hospitable tax regimes. Each island, beaten by ferocious tides, is virtually an independent country and fierce inter-island rivalries smoulder. Put together by an expert team of writers and photographers, Insight Guide: The Channel Islands takes you through the islands' turbulent history, introduces you to the people that tells you what is and isn't worth seeing. With full-color maps and up-to-date information on accommodations, getting around and much more, this is both an inspiring and practical guide.