I got an advance copy of the new 2010 edition of this guide, and find it updated, but still the same excellent guide that we used in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The formatting has changed a little bit (for the better). Some new headings, paragraph breaks, some text emphasized by color background, and so forth. Some of the information re facilities has been updated. There is a new alternate route in the appendix to let you connect up to Camino del Norte. There is a new abbreviation in the author's already terse scheme. Now when you see > it means becomes. ATM machines used to be abbreviated as CD - cash dispenser. Now ATM is used. All changes for the better.
The following is my original review, now updated for the 2010 edition.
We used the earlier edition of this guide for 3 years, finally reaching the Pyrenees in Sept. 2006. The route follows the French National Trail GR65. The author has put a lot of information in this little (4.5in by 6.75in) book. There is an entry for each town or point of interest along the GR65. For example, the entry for Cahors is: "5.5km Cahors 122m (350/390)" followed by detailed town information. The 5.5 is distance from last point, 122m is elevation, 350 is km from Le Puy, 390 is distance to St. Jean. There is no English language competition for this guide, except for a much briefer booklet by the same author done for the Confraternity of St. James. Originally the author published a guide to the entire pilgrimage route from Le Puy to Camino de Santiago. I much prefer having separate more current guides.
To squeeze in the max amount of information and still save weight, the author uses some abbreviations which take some getting used to, similar to text messaging. KSO continue straight on, L left, R right, etc. There are 22 small maps just showing routes and towns. It has several useful appendices including a glossary of French hiking terms.
This book should be used with the current annually updated French language accomodation guide to the GR65 - Miam Miam Dodo : Le chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle, La voie du Puy. This is essential. A useful addition would be the three French language topo guides for the GR65. Both of these can be used without knowledge of French.