A Concise History Of France

This book provides a clear and wellinformed guide to French history from theearly Middle Ages to the present from Charlemagne to Chirac. It offers themost upto... » 

This book provides a clear and wellinformed guide to French history from theearly Middle Ages to the present from Charlemagne to Chirac. It offers themost uptodate and comprehensive study of French history available. Among thebooks central themes are the relationship between state and society theimpact of war and such crucial questions as who possessed political power andhow this power was used. It takes account of the great figures in Frenchhistory among which Philip Augustus Henri IV Louis XIV RobespierreNapoleon de Gaulle and also the findings of social historians concerned withordinary people social structures beliefs and economic activity. This secondedition substantially rewritten to take account of recent research includesa new chapter on contemporary France a society and political system in crisisas a result of globalisation international terrorism racial tension and aloss of confidence in political leaders. «