as that of an educator and, like Demangeon, wrote useful texts for students, teachers and pupils at various stages of education. As a professor he was clear and comprehensive, displaying his belief in the unity of geography (physical, regional and cartographic), but he
was able to focus on economic geography during his quarter century of teaching at the Sorbonne. His personal interests in transport geography were developed through the work of some of his doctoral students. Perpillou’s fascination for tracing changes
. As a stimulating lecturer, inspiring mentor of graduate students, author of influential textbooks, efficient editor of academic journals, friendly yet business-like faculty dean, and long-serving director of the Institute of Geography in Paris, the contribution
the Institut de Géographie for a decade and mentored a hundred doctoral students. He was president of the International Geographical Union, 1972–76. A long and active retirement was devoted to academic travel, scientific writing and campaigning on behalf