Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enjoyable
Enjoyable afternoon read to learn about France, it's fedal past, disparity of classes, kings and nobles, revolution and its various experiments with social egalitarianism as a response to a millenium of oppressive rule by its own increasingly aloof nobility.Fascinating to learn how the nobilty actually became entrapped by their own separation from the peasantry and in essence bacame slaves themselves to the Court by the pensions they accepted from the Crown that itself was bankrupt even though it levied ever heavier taxes on the workers.

Can there be parallels to today's social economic systems that pay out to government workers?Are the non-government workers becoming a form of over taxed peasantry and pensioners a form of government supported nobility?

The history ends in late 1800's.

You will want to have some historical maps of Europe handy. ... Read more

Product Description
In a tour de force, Colin Jones gives a gripping, superbly and intelligently illustrated account of the political, social and cultural history of France, placing an innovatory emphasis on the impact of regionalism, class, gender and race in French heritage. Ranging from prehistoric menhirs to the Pompidou Centre, from Louis XIV's Versailles to twentieth-century highrises, from Marie Antoinette to Marie Claire, The Cambridge Illustrated History of France is host to lively and penetrating new insights that take us through the shaping of France from the earliest times to the brink of a new millennium. Combining superb illustration with outstanding scholarship, the diversity of the French heritage--scientific and artistic, national and regional--is explored with an engrossing and accessible style. Special features on places, people and events, a glossary, and a further reading section enhance this engaging book that will appeal to history buffs and students of French history and culture. Colin Jones is also the author of the Longman Companion to the French Revolution and The Cultural Atlas of France. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

warts and all
I've been something of a histroy buff all of my life. This has been mostly ancient Greek and Roman history and history of Britain. I decided a change of pace would be nice and to learn more of the development of the neighboring country of France. I'd been a great fan of the style of Simon Shama and his approach of emphasizing socio-economic developments along with the usual kings, queens and wars genre of histories of my 50's college days. Looking over the offerings of Amazon.com, I took a chance on Colin Jones "France" in the Cambridge Illustrated History series and am certainly glad I did. (I also like to look at pictures). This book is truly a story of the development of the peoples and the rough and tumble way they came to be a single nation by a series of chances and luck. All of this is presented with a view of the socio-economic patterns and the ebb and flow of the emerging culture. My English history bakground gave me a source of comparison as I read of similar developments of the French peoples across the channel. Such areas as the citizen and the law, equalizing of the privileged classes, enfranchisement for voting and the place of women in society. It was amazing to me that women did not have the right to vote until after the second world war in France. So much of Colin Jones informative writing is relevant to the place of the country in todays world: warts and all. I highly recommend the book for the approach to the subject that Mr. Jones takes and the flow of his writing craft that makes for easy, unencombered interesting reading.

Wonderfully readable history of France
Context:I'm not an academic or a scholar; I've been to France for several vacations and I'm taking my daughter for the first time this summer.I wanted to know more than the few pages in Fodor's.This books was perfect.It has intertesting illustrations, and is written at a level that a layperson can easily understand.It was engaging to read.I got a lot from it, and if you have an interest in France as a traveller, I imagine it would be time well spent for you as well.

Liberté, Liberté chérie,
Reviewing this excellent book on French history for the layperson makes me feel inadequate to the task - it is that good. What can one say about the best, but superlatives.

You will want to read this at one sitting, but unless you read very, very fast you must try to pace yourself. It is that engrossing. This is a thorough, but not pedantic, history of the largest country in Europe.

From prehistoric times before the end of the last ice age, to the end of the twentieth century, a great people and a beautiful language developed under the anvil of continual challenges.

It is true, this is something of a 'coffee table' book; but it is quite meaty. I meant by that gratuitous remark, that it is well illustrated but not in a way that detracts from the excellent text. The author is an expert in his field, be sure of that.

Reading this book is a great adventure; you won't think the same about theFrench nation after this.

entertaining history
This is an excellent book for those interested in learning about French history. Very readable, with wonderful illustrations and side pieces. I wish my textbooks had been like this when I was in school!

Pointless!
352 pages of fact after fact without information.You might get the "when" and "what" of France - if even that.But no way will you know "why" or "how" or even care when you're done with this book.I'd burn it but I have to read it for a class. ... Read more

Product Description
"A witty, engaging narrativestyle....[Robb's] approach is particularlyengrossing."—New York Times BookReview, front-page reviewA narrative of exploration—full of strangelandscapes and even stranger inhabitants—thatexplains the enduring fascination of France.While Gustave Eiffel was changing the skyline of Paris, large parts of France were still terraincognita. Even in the age of railways andnewspapers, France was a land of ancient tribaldivisions, prehistoric communication networks,and pre-Christian beliefs. French itself was aminority language.

Graham Robbdescribes that unknown world in arrestingnarrative detail. He recounts the epic journeysof mapmakers, scientists, soldiers,administrators, and intrepid tourists, ofitinerant workers, pilgrims, and herdsmen withtheir millions of migratory domestic animals. We learn how France was explored, charted, andcolonized, and how the imperial influence ofParis was gradually extended throughout akingdom of isolated towns and villages.

The Discovery of France explains how the modern nation came to be and how poorlyunderstood that nation still is today. Aboveall, it shows how much of France—past andpresent—remains to be discovered. A New York Times Notable Book, PublishersWeekly Best Book, Slate Best Book, and Booklist Editor's Choice. 16 pages of illustrations ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

The best book I have ever read on France
A very unusual description of france looking outside Paris outside the elite and not concerned with past descriptions. For foreigners living in France probably the best introduction to their adopted home.

great to read while in france
this was a great book to read upon arriving here in france. helps to explain so many cultural, language, architectural and historical questions i had. really kept coming across things and immediately understood "why." can't wait to read "Discovery of Paris."

Too much of a good thing
Much of the book is extraordinarily interesting, but Robb keeps reinforcing points already made with excessive detail.A good editor would have helped.This would be a better book if it were one-third shorter.

"France", an alien planet
An amazing and strange book. A science-fiction story about an alien planet called "France". Only non-Frenchman could have looked at the available historical evidence and drawn this strange conclusion. Absolutely fascinating.

Discovery of France
This is the book for anyone interested in French society and the coming together of France as a nation during the past couple of centuries. The casual tourist will never discover how France developed from a disparate combination of rural enclaves with their own "patois" or that remnants of the past still pertain in the various regions that are now tourist enclaves. This book is a must for those with more than a passing interest in France. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume outlines French history from prehistoric times to the present. Among the diverse themes discussed are the relations of France with its neighbours, the ever-present tension between national unity and regional autonomy, the role of the Church, and developments in public works and education. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Loved it
An excellent book about the history of France written in an easy-to-read style. The only thing that is missing is any reference at all to the United States. Interesting!

Lite, but not too lite
More history than you'll find in a guidebook, but less than a semester course.Well written and up to date.It was just what I hoped for.Read it on the flights to and from Paris and was glad I did. ... Read more

Product Description
History with the nasty bits left in! "The Horrible History of France" reveals the revolting truth behind the rebellious, revolutionary French, from the tortured times o the Dark Ages to the murderous moments of the 19th Century. Want to know: which King thought he was made of glass; why French bread was once made from broken tiles and bricks; and, how to play hopscotch like a French highwayman. Read on for the dire details on a host of curious kings, quirky queens and evil emperors - and the rebels who had them butchered, beheaded and bumped off when they'd had enough of them. Find out about France's foul famines, terrible terrors and the gruesome guillotine. History has never been so horrible! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

FRANCE
EXCELLENT!Keep this a one of the foundations of the entire Horrible Histories series! ... Read more

Product Description

This is the most up-to-date, concise, yet comprehensive narrative history of France, current through the end of 1999. Engagingly written for students and general public, it brings to life the compelling history of this fractious and fascinating country, which has given to the world cultural glory and a model of democratic revolution. No longer a nation of peasants or small shopkeepers, France has weathered the storms of the first half of the 20th century to emerge as the fourth largest economic power in the industrial world. At the turn of the 21st century French society is in dynamic flux, shaped by integration, feminism, youth culture, and economic and social change. Each chapter of this work covers a distinct period of French history, from prehistory to France at the end of the 20th century, examining the problems and issues of that era and how they impacted later events.

Following a timeline of significant events in the history of France, the work begins with an overview of France today, its geography, government, religion, economy, and society. Eleven chapters trace the chronological history of France, the major figures who shaped it, and its economy and society. Haine, a specialist in French history and culture, makes the complex history of France as monarchy, empire, and democratic republic not only understandable but interesting, with sidelights and human interest components that enliven the text. Short biographical sketches of notable people in French history and a bibliography of print and electronic sources will aid the student researcher. Every school and public library should update its resources on France with this lively and succinct narrative history.

Customer Reviews (1)

Good basic intro
This book offers a quick overview of French history.Depth into one era require supplemental sources, but the book is true to it's title, offering a well presented top line ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: History / General; ... Read more

Product Description
Millions of travellers visit France each year. The glories of the French countryside, the essential harmony of French architecture, the wealth of historical relics, the myriad of cultural opportunities - all make the country a perennial and irresistible attraction.

A Traveller's History of France takes the reader from the first conquests of ancient Gaul through the Renaissance, the turmoil and triumph of the French Revolution, and on through the 20th century of French history all the way to the present. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good Prep Work
A useful book that is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in France's history.A good introduction to an enormous topic - it serves the purpose.However, if you are looking for a detailed, in depth, insightful history of France or a guide book, this is not the book to buy... and it doesn't claim to be.

interesting topic, poorly handled
The text is poorly written - often it is unclear who the author is even referring to.For example, "he died a year later."Well. . . . who??Many such examples where if you don't already know the history, you may feel a bit lost.

Quick & Dirty
When I travel I like to read the historic markers and understand the significance of what I am seeing.If I don't have a clue about the context ("the what dynasty was when?") I tend to feel lost and frustrated. Typically, I don't have the time in the weeks before my trip to digest an eight volume history of a country but would like a high level view of the important people, periods and events in the country's history. "A Traveller's History France" perfectly fit that bill.

Some of the features I liked are a list of all the French kings and their linneage, a timeline with all the relevant events and an alphabetical list of major events and battles. The writing is lucid, succinct as well as funny and opinionated. In this kind of book its important to convey a sense and a feel of entire century in the space of a paragraph and to stay connected to the larger political and social themes imbedded in the historical minutae.Robert Cole does this quite well.

The biggest negative for me is that half the book focuses on the last two hundred years and that is the period of French History I know best.I would have enjoyed more of a discussion of the rise of the monarchy, the British influence in France because of the various invasions and a richer discussion of the religious wars in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Boring...
The subject is not definetely boring but this book is. Why? the relation of events are handled poorly, daily life is not written, the place of France in Europe in terms of political status or economical status is not written. It is like a reference book giving the dates and people names, who married to whom, who administered what part of country. This is definetely not history. I am still looking for a good book on France's history.

A Wonderful Subject Poorly Handled
This is a good example of how NOT to write history. In about 200 pages we have a brief over-view of the whole history of France. Unfortunately, Cole tries to say too much--too many names and dates. In order to get all his names in Cole has little room left to explain anything important about history: wars "break-out" and artists "come to" Paris. Why any of this happens is without explanation.
Even for the traveller with a passing interest in the history of France, this book in inadequate. There is no special attention paid to places of interest to travellers; there is little mention of the great artists and cultural figures of France, and the history included in often written in an uninspired manner that will bore most readers.
If you are going to France and what some history, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides a clear and up-to-date guide to French history from the early middle ages to the present--from Charlemagne to Chirac. Among the book's central themes are the relationship between state and society, the impact of war and the use of political power. Substantially re-written to take account of recent research, this second edition includes a new chapter on contemporary France; a society and political system in crisis as a result of globalization, international terrorism, racial tension and a loss of confidence in political leaders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

This is a concise socio-economic history of France
"A Concise History of France" by Roger Price is a absolutely not a work recommended for anyone looking for a introduction to the basic outline of French History. It would make a fine companion book outlining the economic and social development of France in a classroom setting, but one would definitely want a political history outlining the historical development of France and its key figures, achievements, etc., to balance out the reading materials. The book glosses over huge portions of important aspects of, and figures in, French History with barely a mention- little less a fleshing out of their importance. Everything outside of raw economic and social development data seems to get just enough of a glancing description to push the historical narrative forward. These negative aspects of the book are very oppressive in the first chapters, but improves gradually from the French Revolution onwards to the 20th century. It is really only in chapters pertaining to the 20th century that the writing style relays information in a clear and effective manner.

This book relays huge amounts of important economic and social development facts, but it is not at all what most readers would consider a concise history of France. A concise history of any nation is no easy feat, nor is writing a comprehensive academic level work of any sort, so don't let this review give the impression that I am degrading the quality of the author's academic and writing ability; rather I am just offering a critical review of what is offered as a concise history that falls considerably short of the mark in terms to what the target audience of this book would expect. Thus, in conclusion I would recommend this book as a companion work to be read in conjunction with a political history, because only with such a combination would a reader interested in French History get the most out of this well researched, if lacking, book.

A weak history
This is really not a good book. It is a textbook style-feel book but it lacks depth and good illustrations.

what kind of history do you want?
Not a very exciting read. If you like to travel to France as I do, and just want to know something about the country and its past, this is not the book you want. If however you are a student who needs to know about various obscure historical figures, then perhaps it would be useful. The book does not present a good overall history of France, but does go into detail about selected events and people.

I Don't Know if Concise Is the Right Word..?
Well, after reading about England, I decided to start studying France, so I decided to buy a short concise history of it. I mean, I already knew the basic outline. However, I was dissapointed.

Good - The book gives a CONCISE history, but does not cover the prehistory and the Romans, who are not mentioned. The book starts from The Hundred Years War, to the monarchy, to the many revolutions and republics, to France's state of a world power and the colonial era, and also, the loss of troops in World War I, and the brutal occupation by Nazi Germany in World War II. It also covers the Mitterand presidency and how France tries to escape socialism and communism.

Bad - The book does not really talk about the people of France, it talks more about the economy, not the people. Mr. Price doesn't seem to grasp that the reader wants something more of how people and state are connected, not the economy. Also, where is the prehistory and the Roman invasion of Gaul? Just because it was earlier doesn't mean that it has to be skipped! I mean, it was part of France's history, then how does the reader know how and why the cities of Marseilles and Nice have kept Italian culture all these years! The book skips some things.

Okay, if you're gonna buy this, then buy another book of France along with it.

RATING - 3 stars ***

Pithy History
Stars awarded, as noted by earlier reviewers, depend upon one's expectations.I agree that the book is not for those new to information-laden (academic type) history books, nor is it written to amuse.It is only exactly what is indicated on the title: A Concise History of France.And a good value, if that's what you want. ... Read more

Product Description
This stimulating one-volume history traces the social and economicevolution of France as a nation from the founding of the monarchy in987, to the present day.

Goubert's perspective is a popular one and his interpretationemphasizes how historical occurrences and famous individuals affectthe nation as a whole. He is most concerned with how events influencedthe lives of ordinary people, rejecting theorizing and systematizingof ideas for reliable, undogmatic information about the past. Thissynthesis of approaches creates a survey which unites broadchronological scope and a detailed examination of the leadingpersonalities and events of the period, with a "history from below"analysis. The combination of rich interpretive approach with Goubert'sdistinctively animated and forceful narrative makes this an invaluabletext for the academic and general reader alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellant
Excellant history, however, difficult to understand.I had to have a dictionary handy to read it.Well worth it.

Good for French History but not a fun read
I really like this book because I'm trying to learn about French History.It is very academic so if you are looking for a "fun" or "leisurely" read, pass on this book. ... Read more

Product Description

History of Modern Francesurveys the history of France, from the mid-eighteenth century to the present. The book attempts to present scholarly controversies in an even-handed way and to reflect the best of contemporary scholarship in French history. Organized chronologically, the book presents an overview of the dramatic events that have punctuated French history, from the French Revolution through the upheavals of the nineteenth century and the world wars of the twentieth, down to France’s current role in the European Community. For the study of modern French history.

Product Description
The Access to History series is the most popular and trusted series for AS and A level history students. The new editions combine all the strengths of this well-loved series with a new design and features that allow all students access to the content and study skills needed to achieve exam success.

This is a new edition of 'France in Revolution' and has been fully updated and extended to cover the 2008 AS and A2 specifications for all examination boards. This title charts the long- and short-term causes of the French Revolution, the political, social and economic impact of the Revolution itself and the establishment of the Terror.

There is also an additional chapter on Napoleonic rule in France from 1799-1815. Throughout the book key dates, terms and issues are highlighted, and historical interpretations of key debates are outlined. Summary diagrams are included to consolidate knowledge and understanding of the period, and exam-style questions and tips written by examiners for each examination board provide the opportunity to develop exam skills.

Revised edition for the requirements of the 2008 AS and A2 specifications Study guides written by examiners contain exercises and advice on tackling differentiated exam questions for AS and A Level. Contains the latest historical interpretations of themes and issues. Features include: points to consider, key issues and key dates. Features such as key definitions and questions to aid learning. More support with assessment and exam skills. Designed to allow greater accessibility to a wide range of AS and A2 students. ... Read more

Product Description
In this book, now available in paperback, he examines the history of France from the rise of the Capetians in the mid-tenth century to the execution of Joan of Arc in the mid-fifteenth. He takes the evolution of power and the emergence of the French state as his central themes, and guides the reader through complex - and, in many respects, still unfamiliar, yet fascinating terrain. He describes the growth of the castle and the village, the building blocks of the new Western European civilization of the second millenium AD. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Insights from an Important French Historian
This volume by Georges Duby (1919-1996), distinguished professor emeritus of the Collège de France, was written about ten years before his death. It is an excellent resource and a good introduction to French medieval history for the serious student of French history. His argument is especially strong in connecting the evolving French political, economic, and intellectual movements to counter-developments in historic events and thought. It is part of a larger series on French history that was commissioned to celebrate the Millennium, and his section, despite its title, is a short introduction that introduces his real expertise in the eleventh through thirteenth centuries, with a short wrap-up of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The choice of Joan of Arc to represent the fifteenth century is meant to connect to the next volume (written by Leroy Ladurie) and to demonstrate the continuing romantic influence of the symbolism of the Middle Ages--especially through adaptation of sacred symbols to modern and secular movements and national allegiance. Duby's historical narrative voice is lively, engaging, intelligent, humble, and authoritative. I like his voice, so I enjoyed the book. Overall, the book is one which would stimulate discussion and cause serious students to want to inquire further, while providing excellent insights from an important French historian.

Boring
This is the most boring book I have ever purchased from amazon.com.
Despite having an avid interest in medieval French coins, and after heroic efforts to finish this book, it remains unfinished on my bookshelf.

Omnia Gallia Divisa....
Once upon a time, France did not exist. Julius Caesar said the land of theGauls (tribes the Greeks called Keltoi) was divided into three parts and heset out to conquer them all. Caesar was probably speaking of the area knowntoday as France, as well as parts of Switzerland, Germany, and the Lowcountries.Caesar subdued many tribes in living in the land of the Gauls,but only the southern part was ever completely romanized -- GalliaNarbonensis. When the Roman Empire collapsed, Northern Gaul was once againdominated by warriors known as Franks.

George Duby begins his storyin the year 987 A.D. and ends it in 1460 with the success of the Capetianswho in defeating Henry VI, finally drove the English from their land.During this 500 year period, France developed from a land composed of smallsettlements and huge swaths of rural farmland and wilderness to a networkof villages and towns centered on commerce and trade. In 987 A.D. Duby sayspower was tied to geneology, but by the end, wealth was also a majorfactor.

Duby not only addresses the Middle Ages of 987 to 1460 A.D., buthe comments on how he as an historian went about reconstructing his storyfrom contemporary materials available from various sources. So, this is notonly a history book, it is a book on historiography of sorts. For example,Duby says the use of various Latin words in various documents could meanmany different things. How does the historian know what these terms imply? The underlying meaning of Latin words changed over time, just as Englishwords we use today have changed meaning over time.

My favorite section ofthe book is "The Village."Around 1,000, villages as they cameto be known, did not exist in France. There were 'bourgs' which were smalltowns outside the gates of walled monasteries, or where a castle or a RomanVilla had once existed.Castles were built everywhere during the Feudalperiod as lords battled for control of their lands.These castles wereknown in France as 'maisons fortes' or fortified houses.Lords and theirretinues moved from one fortified house to another and never slept in theopen. In the southwest, these fortified castles were known as 'castelnaus.'

Because of the power of the church, the territory now know as Franceseems to have been organized into parishes (parochia). The parish centerwas a church (later a cathedral) and it'sburial grounds. Christianchurches were probably built where pagan structures had once stood.(Panofsky suggests the major Cathedrals in France are laid out in thepattern of the constellation Libra). Women came to the burial grounds andleft grave goods, a pagan practice Duby says the church eventuallyeradicated (guess he didn't read "Midnight in the Garden of Good andEvil").

Duby indicates there was little "law and order" ofthe sort dominant males appreciate in 1,000 A.D. He says many groups viedfor power including a multitude of splinter groups who "occupied thetwilight between heresy and orthodoxy."Women, were perceived towield magical pwoers and were greatly feared. In the rural areas dominatedby women, male power was impotent.

Duby's book covers the transitionfrom a world where families fought for power and the rural areas ruled, toone where one lord finally dominated the others--the King. The winningfamily was named Capet and one or another branch of this family dominatedFrance until the French Revolution.The source of their power was commerceand trade, and their close alliance with the church. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enjoyable
Enjoyable afternoon read to learn about France, it's fedal past, disparity of classes, kings and nobles, revolution and its various experiments with social egalitarianism as a response to a millenium of oppressive rule by its own increasingly aloof nobility.Fascinating to learn how the nobilty actually became entrapped by their own separation from the peasantry and in essence bacame slaves themselves to the Court by the pensions they accepted from the Crown that itself was bankrupt even though it levied ever heavier taxes on the workers.

Can there be parallels to today's social economic systems that pay out to government workers?Are the non-government workers becoming a form of over taxed peasantry and pensioners a form of government supported nobility?

The history ends in late 1800's.

You will want to have some historical maps of Europe handy. ... Read more

Product Description
There can be few more mesmerizing historical narratives than the story of how the confident monarchy left by Louis XIV in 1715 became the discredited failure toppled by revolution in 1789. This brilliant new book is the first in forty years to describe the whole period, from the last days of the "Sun King" to the wars of Napoleon. In a groundbreaking work of scholarship, Colin Jones argues that, contrary to popular belief, the house of Bourbon’s downfall was hardly a foregone conclusion. Producing an illuminating account of a society torn apart from within, he recounts the saga of how a dynamic French society—the heart of the Enlighten-ment—fell prey to the debt and humiliation of its wars against Britain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

If your assigned this for a class:
Got this in class. Its NOT an easy read. Its not horrible, its just that he throws in all the facts of all the political intrigues, including things that ended in political dead ends.... and you find your self getting bogged up in details that make it harder to follow the story line. When he's discussing scandals etc, the book gets much much easier to read and enjoyable.

Its pretty dense, in other words. But as assigned books go, not bad. I learned alot about pre revolutionary France reading this, and I had no interest in the subject when I signed up for the course (I was just fulfilling a requirement).

Fashion reigns supreme
Colin Jones's The Great Nation is history of the grand narrative type. In one long roller-coaster ride, its takes the reader from the death of Louis XIV to the seizure of power by Napoleon in 1799. Jones's emphasis is on continuity, his theory that France remained a country centred around the glory and brilliance of its court and rulers.

Within this theme, anecdotes and boudoir history are especially highlighted, making this generally fun to read while of course not avoiding more conventionally political or constitutional events. But Jones's version of the old regime and the revolution are very current, very fashionable, dwelling on court intrigue and the importance of an emerging `public sphere'. This makes for a certain kind of writing, which while amusing as a story - Jones obviously loves his subject, and has entertaining titles and chapters like `diamonds: not a queen's best friend', taking us to Versailles's gardens at night and then onto the vitriolic Paris pamphleteer's scene- is sometimes short on analysis. Students interested in, say, the monarchy's fiscal problems will have to look elsewhere for data. Jones's view is that old regime France's fragility had to do with court faction, dependence on foreign policy success, and a critical public opinion. Everyone is free to disagree.

Pseudo-intellectual rubbish.
Poor organization and the absence of historical FACTS combined with analysis without insight make this book an exercise in pseudo-intellectual flight from reality.

Unfortunately, not a classic
About 13 years ago Colin Jones published a fascinating article in a collection of essays edited by Colin Lucas entitled "Bourgeois Revolution Revivified".In contrast to the powerful revisionist historiography of the French Revolution Jones argued that the old explanation of the rise of the bourgeoisie could not be easily ignored.He pointed out such tendencies as the rise of consumerism, economic growth in both the agricultural and foreign trade sectors, as well as the increase in the bourgeoisie's numbers.He also looked at certain professions and discussed the rise of a non-noble ideology of "civic professionalism."Jones then followed up this article with a number of others, one of which looked at how the emerging medical profession helped to develop an advertising market, and another looked at the practice of dentistry.Now Jones has provided the monograph that such articles are usually the prelude to.It is a largely political history of France which covers the same period as the first volume of Alfred Cobban's 40 year old history of France.Jones' thesis can be seen in his title.During this time France was a great nation, did increase its prosperity and had an increasingly self-confident bourgeoisie.Indeed it was they, and to a lesser extent the peasantry, who were the main beneficiary of the revolution.France's political history should be seen in its own right, and not simply through from the vantage point of 1799.The best parts of it detail the same themes as "Bourgeois Revolution Revivified."They do not add much more to them, but we learn about increasing literacy and there is a good chapter on the rise of the Enlightenment.

We also get more detail about the bureaucratic structures and the controversies over Jansenism than in Cobban's work.Jones also follows the Figes/Schama tendency to spice up his work with interesting anecdotes.We start off by learning about the dying Louis XIV and the truly horrifying state of his teeth.We learn how many times Louis XV consummated his marriage on his wedding night (seven).We learn not only that Louis XVI fell under the thrall of his wife during the French Revolution, but that she also beat him at billiards.On the other hand the book gets few footnotes, and the bibliography, forty years after Cobban, is cursory at best.Unfortunately, the discussion of the French Revolution itself, which takes roughly the last third of the book, is a disappointment.There is little new or original here that has not been said by other historians.Rather strikingly, while Jones gives us a portrait of each of the three monarchs of the time, none of the revolutionaries get the same treatment.One can only contrast this with Cobban's picture of the Committe of Public Safety.Moreover, by the end of the revolution the struggles between neo-Jacobin and Directorials, anti-Clericals and Catholics, republicans and monarchists appear to be equally useless struggles between equally fanatical people.One feels that Europe's first attempt at democratic government deserves more sympathy. ... Read more

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During the decades from 1900 to 1940, art in France developed in ways that were of paramount importance to 20th-century art. This illustrated account sets these developments within the framework of the unstable social, political, intellectual and artistic worlds of the time and analyses the innovations of artists ranging from Matisse to Picasso, Duchamp to Dali. ... Read more

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Examines the rise of modern art in France
Art In France 1900-1940 examines the rise of modern art in France, from notable movements within the art world which brought new approaches to art to developments which changed the social and political face of French history. Art In France 1900-1940 considers art achievements within the context of French history and culture, providing important connections between changes in the art world and changes in the social arena. Black and white and color photos pepper the display, but it's the focus on art history which makes this a special presentation. ... Read more

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This volume is the first historical introduction to women's writing in France from the sixth century to the present day. Specially commissioned essays by leading scholars provide the first introduction in English to the wealth and diversity of French women writers, offering new readingsand new perspectives. Each chapter focuses on a given period and range of writers, taking account of prevailing sexual ideologies and the social, political, economic and cultural surroundings. Extensive reference features include a bibliography and guide to more than one hundred and fifty writers and their works. ... Read more

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The Fall of France in 1940 is one of the pivotal moments of the twentieth century. If the German invasion of France had failed, it is arguable that the war might have ended right there. But the French suffered instead a dramatic and humiliating defeat, a loss that ultimately drew the whole world into war.This exciting new book by Julian Jackson, a leading historian of twentieth-century France, charts the breathtakingly rapid events that led to the defeat and surrender of one of the greatest bastions of the Western Allies. Using eyewitness accounts, memoirs, and diaries to bring the story to life, Jackson not only recreates the intense atmosphere of the six weeks in May and June leading up to the establishment of the Vichy regime, but he also unravels the historical evidence to produce a fresh answer to the perennial question--was the fall of France inevitable.Jackson's vivid narrative explores the errors of France's military leaders, her inability to create stronger alliances, the political infighting, the lack of morale, even the decadence of the inter-war years. He debunks the 'vast superiority' of the German army, revealing that the more experienced French troops did well in battle against the Germans. Perhaps more than anything else, the cause of the defeat was the failure of the French to pinpoint where the main thrust of the German army would come, a failure that led them to put their best soldiers up against a feint, while their worst troops faced the heart of the German war machine. An engaging and authoritative narrative, The Fall of France illuminates six weeks that changed the course of twentieth-century history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Superb little book
This is a superb little book. It is written in a readable and engaging style. Despite its readability, 'The Fall of France' is also a very scholarly study based on the reading of just about everything available on the subject. It is a reliable and thought-provoking account of the extraordinary events of May-June 1940, which also tries to understand the consequences of these events and how they affected the course of history. A very intelligent account from a world class historian.

Kindle Version
My big concern is with the Kindle Version. The "zoom" aspect that allows one to expand and see the maps doesn't work; a technician from Amazon said that is the responsibility of the publisher. Being able to utilize the maps to appreciate the text is very important in a war history book and not being able to see them(too small on the Kindle) leaves the reader at a big disadvantage.I would not recommend the Kindle version for this reason alone. Amazon should not allow a Kindle version that doesn't meet the zoom standards or should at least tell its customers before buying that the "zoom" feature is not available.

Excellent, but not nearly exhaustive enough
It's strange how this event, which unfolded now almost 70 years ago and a continent away, continues to hold a certain place in the American mind. It's a story learned at an early age. In truth, it deserves this place. 1940 was the worst disaster, the furthest the West has gone towards defeat.

All these books stretching back to Bloch's "Strange Defeat" aim to answer the question--how did it come to this? There's a familiar litany if you have read the topic before, e.g.:

Decadence,demography,economics,pacifism,communism,the trauma of WWI,the French infantryman,the Maginot line,the British,the Blitzkrieg,the Panzers,outdated doctrine,failure of leadership,failure of strategy,failure of intelligence, and simple defeat on the battlefield.

Jackson leans towards the the last, but his final thesis is not closed to more predetermined causes. Jackson's method is to engage the historiography as he tells the story of the campaign. He posits the various catastrophe narratives (inevitable demography), and asks what evidence exists for them (well, France's army was larger than Germany's in 1940).

I applaud this method, which is superior to the polemics this subject seems to attract. But this book is too short; there isn't enough space to really evaluate the claims. One finishes the book unconvinced. To really demonstrate that the Battle of France was a military contingency, that if only divisions X,Y,Z were in the Ardennes instead of Belgium everything would be different, would require a truly detailed military history. I suspect there would be no lack of material if you devoted your life to 1940, and you might still fail to come up with a satisfying answer. Still, this subject is waiting for its door-stopper, its version of Richard Evans. Someone needs to write the 1000 page opus that tells plainly what happened on those clear days in May.

Too much apologia for Communist support of Nazi invasion
I find it abhorrent that almost 70 years later, this author as many others find it necessary to cover up the cooperation offered by the Communists to the 1940 Nazi takeover of France. For instance, see this stilted apologia/coverup (my comments in parenthesis):

Jackson, Julian 2003 The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940 (Making of the Modern World)Oxford University Press, New York Chapter The French People at War ISBN-10: 019280300X ISBN-13: 978-0192803009 Page 155: "workers carried out sabotage were largely groundless. The Communist Party did not in fact advocate sabotage, although it did urge the workers to protest against working conditions and slow down production. The only proven (this is double talk if it had been proven, the communists would have killed them, or they would have been slaughtered on the liberation of France L.D.) took place in the Farmann factory. It was the work of a tiny (notice diminutive L.D.) of Communists -two of them brothers-acting on their own initiative (and if they had received orders from higher up this would be recorded L.D.). Three of them were shot on 22 June, just before the signing of the armistice. It is impossible to say (but not to rationally speculate L.D.) if the production of difficulties in certain arms factories were due to political difficulties were due to political motives. ..." The rest of the paragraph and what follows seems to be mere excuse and diversion one notes in passing that the Renault factory produced tanks ... this reminds me far too much of the communist betrayal of the survivors of the attack on the Cuban presidential palace in 1957. A least Castro shot one of those betrayers ...

If a reader wishes a more balanced approach to this question she/he might also read: Frieser, Karl-Heinz and John T. Greenwood 2005 The Blitzkrieg legend: The 1940 Campaign in the West. US Naval Institute Press ISBN-10 1591142946, ISBN-13: 978-1591142942Page 321states: "France's Left found itself torn two ways when Stalin allied himself with his archenemy Hitler. Parts of the Communist Party of France in fact collaborated with the National Socialists. The German soldiers who marched through French towns did not believe what they saw when they read, for example, the following slogans on leaflets and posters: On ne tire pas contre les Allemands. -Pas un coup de feu! Vive Stalin-Vive Hitler (Do not fire on Germans.- Not a single round! Long live Stalin-Long live Hitler! The Communist Party had, of course, been outlawed in September 1939 and most of its deputies arrested. But numerous subversive measures provided support for Stalin;s and Hitler's polices.For example, Communist workers carried out a series of sabotage acts in arms plants.Some of the aircraft delivered by the Farman Works exploded mysteriously in the air shortly after takeoff. At last, the security police caught Roger ..."

Hitler's Luck
Professor Jackson's study of the various factors that contributed to the seemingly easy German victory leaves the reader with the distinct impression that none of this was inevitable and that France fell victim to a series of military, political and international missteps that left it's army and ultimately the entire country completely vulnerable.

Focusing on the military aspects, Jackson makes it clear that leading up to the war the French army was evenly matched and in some respects had technological advantages. It's demise was related to strategic errors and disagreements among leadership that hindered the army's ability to coordinate.

The country was haunted by recent memories of the First World War, which was largely fought on French soil and the strategy of deploying the armies in Belgium at the outbreak of hostilities to avoid a repeat of this played right into the German plan.

Domestic politics were equally culpable with the left and the right taking very different views of how France should react to the crisis.

This book is a well researched, scholarly account of all these historically significant threads. It weaves the factors together brilliantly, revealing the characters and personalities of the major players while relating the major events leading up to the collapse in clear fashion.

Certainly enhanced my understanding of these events. ... Read more

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This new edition traces the changes that took place in France between 1795 and 1815. It begins with Napoleon's rise to power, his consolidation and maintenance of power, and the creation of the Napoleonic Empire. Napoleon's downfall is analysed in detail and historiographical interpretations of key Napoleonic policies are explained and assessed.

Throughout the book, key dates, terms and issues are highlighted, and historical interpretations of key debates are outlined. Summary diagrams are included to consolidate knowledge and understanding of the period, and exam-style questions and tips written by examiners provide the opportunity to develop exam skills. ... Read more