France : a modern history from the Revolution to the war with terror / Jonathan Fenby.
Edition:
First U.S. edition.
Publisher:
St. Martin's Press,
Copyright Date:
2016
Description:
xxxix, 536 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm
Other Titles:
History of modern France
Notes:
Originally published: The history of modern France. London : Simon & Schuster, 2015. Includes bibliographical references (pages 485-515) and index.
Contents:
Part 5 The weight of history. Restoration -- Reaction and revolution -- Citizen king -- Sharpening the knife -- Part 2 Republicanism and empire 1848-1870: The impossible dream -- From prince president to emperor -- The opportunistic empire -- Reform and disaster -- Part 3 The third republic 1870-1940: The bloody week -- A good little republic -- The men of the middle -- From the affair to war -- The troubled peace -- Tout va trè€s bien, madame la marquise -- Part 4 Vichy, De Gaulle and the unloved republic 1940-1958: Two Frances -- Liberation -- Seeking a new course -- The unloved republic -- The end of a republic -- Part 5 The fifth republic 1958-2015: New regime, new times -- Decline and fall -- The banker, the prince and the Florentine -- Bulldozer, bling and normal -- The weight of history.
Summary:
"With the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815, the next two centuries for France would be tumultuous. Critically acclaimed historian and political commentator Jonathan Fenby provides an expert and riveting journey through this period as he recounts and analyzes the extraordinary sequence of events of this period from the end of the First Revolution through two others, a return of Empire, three catastrophic wars with Germany, periods of stability and hope interspersed with years of uncertainty and high tensions. As her cross-channel neighbor Great Britain would equally suffer, France was to undergo the wrenching loss of colonies in the post-Second World War era as the new modern world we know today took shape. Her attempts to become the leader of the European Union was a constant struggle, as was her lack of support for America in the two Gulf Wars of the past twenty years. Alongside this came huge social changes and cultural landmarks, but also fundamental questioning of what this nation, which considers itself exceptional, really stood--and stands--for. That saga and those questions permeate the France of today, now with an implacable enemy to face in the form of Islamic extremism which so bloodily announced itself this year in Paris. Fenby will detail every event, every struggle, and every outcome across this expanse of 200 years. It will prove to be the definitive guide to understanding France."--Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.