My review for Nebula finalist Jade City by Fonda Lee is here. 

Peasants Into Frenchmen: The Modernization of Rural France, 1870-1914 by Eugen Weber

A discussion of peasant life in France -- from the patois they still spoke instead of French, through the economy, and the practice of local justice, to the festivities -- and the forces that changed it -- compulsory education, roads, ability to buy thing down to lime for the fields -- and the resulting changes.

Very extensive. Down to how the peasants did not give up their brightly colored wedding gowns until some time after it became custom to get the bride a white veil.