This book provides a clear and well-informed guide to French history from the early middle ages, with the emergence of a strong state in the Ile-de-France, to the trente glorieuses following the Second World War and including the Mitterand presidency. It provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive study of French history available. Among the book's central themes are the relationship between state and society, the impact of war and such crucial questions as who possessed political power, how this power was used, and in whose interests and with what consequences. It takes account of the great figures of French history, including Philip Augustus, Henri IV, Louis XIV, the two Napoleons, Clemenceau and De Gaulle, and also the findings of modern social historians concerned with the life and death of ordinary people, the passing of generations, social structures, beliefs, and economic activity. This is a rich and entertaining guide to France for the student and general reader.

This concise yet rich introduction to the French Revolution explores the origins, development, and eventual decline of a movement that defines France to this day. Through an accessible chronological narrative, Sylvia Neely explains the complex events, conflicting groups, and rapid changes that characterized this critical period in French history. She traces the fundamental transformations in government and society that forced the French to come up with new ways of thinking about their place in the world, ultimately leading to liberalism, conservatism, terrorism, and modern nationalism. Written with clarity and nuance, this work will be an engaging and rewarding exploration for all readers interested in France and revolutionary history.

When we think of France, we tend think of fine food and wine, the elegant boulevards of Paris or the chic beaches of St Tropez. Yet, as the largest country in Europe, France is home to extraordinary diversity. The idea of 'Frenchness' emerged through 2,000 years of history and it is this riveting story, from the Roman conquest of Gaul to the present day, that Cecil Jenkins tells: of the forging of this great nation through its significant people and events and and its fascinating culture. As he unfolds this narrative, Jenkins shows why the French began to see themselves as so different from the rest of Europe, but also why, today, the French face the same problems with regard to identity as so many other European nations.

A Short History of France comprises brief accounts of significant events in the history of France. Some of the topics discussed in this book include the origins of France; Capetians to St. Louis; Joan of Arc and the restoration of France at the end of the Middle Ages; France from Charles VIII to the rise of Catherine de' Medici; end of the Valois line and the reign of Henry IV; and Mazarin and the years of the Fronde. Louis XIV and the establishment of absolutism; Waterloo to the revolution of 1848; The Second Empire and its collapse; and events in the last 50 years in France are also described in this text. This publication is valuable to French language and literature students who wish to gain general knowledge on French history.

A Short History of the French Revolution is an up-to-date survey of the French Revolution and Napoleonic era that introduces readers to the origins and events of this turbulent period in French history, and historians’ interpretations of these events. The book covers all aspects of the Revolution, including the political, social, and cultural origins of the Revolution, and its causes, events, and aftermath, to provide readers with a full, and yet concise, overview of the Revolution that helps them easily understand the key elements of the subject. Fully updated and revised, this new edition allows students to engage with the most current work on the subject with increased attention given to women’s role in the Revolution, full coverage of the struggles over race and slavery, a new emphasis on the populist element in revolutionary politics, and an expanded discussion of the historiography of the era. Supported by learning objectives, critical thinking questions, and suggestions for further reading, this is the perfect introduction to the French Revolution for students of French and European History in the late eighteenth century.

This book attempts to introduce students to the major events that make up the story of the French Revolution and to the different ways in which historians have interpreted them. It covers the relationship between France and the United States.

Highlighting the key events, ideas, and individuals that shaped modern Europe, this lively book provides a concise history of the continent from the Enlightenment to the present day. Drawing on the enduring theme of revolution, David S. Mason explores the political, economic, and scientific causes and consequences of revolution; the development of human rights and democracy; and issues of European identity and integration. He deliberately avoids a detailed chronology of every country and time period, instead emphasizing the most crucial events in shaping contemporary Europe. Fourteen focused chapters address such topical issues as the Enlightenment; the French Revolution and Napoleon; the Industrial Revolution; the theories and impact of Marx and Darwin; the revolutions of 1848, 1917, and 1989; the unifications of Germany and Italy; European imperialism; the two world wars; the Cold War; the evolution and expansion of the European Union; and current issues confronting Europe. Any reader who wants to view the broad sweep of European history will find this book an engaging narrative, supplemented with maps, timelines, sidebars, photos, and a glossary.

Reproduction of the original: A Short History of French Literature by George Saintsbury