A Brief History Of France

Description

When we think of France we often evoke images of fine food and wine, the elegant boulevards of Paris, the chic beaches of St Tropez. Yet, as the largest country in Europe, it is a place of huge diversity. The idea of 'Frenchness' emerged from over 2000 years of history and it is a riveting story from Roman conquest to the present day. Cecil Jenkins tells the story of the formation of this nation through its people, great events and culture. Through this narrative he charts why the French began to see themselves as so different from the rest of Europe and why, today, they face the same problems of identity as many other nations.

Promotion info

The story of France through its people, great events and culture.

Author description

Cecil Jenkins was educated at Trinity Dublin and won a scholarship to the Ecole Normale Superieur de Paris. He has taught at the Ecole Normale Superior de Saint-Cload, Exeter University and then Reader in French at Sussex University where he became Dean of the school of European Studies. He has written book son Francois Mauriac, Andre Malraux as well as other 20th century French writers.