Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle was a French general who led the resistance against **** Germany in World War II. He was also the President of France's Fifth Republic for ten years, challenging American hegemony and decolonizing Algeria. Julian Jackson's biography reveals de Gaulle's life as never before, drawing on a vast range of published and unpublished memoirs and documents to show how he achieved so much with so few resources.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 944 pages
\n Publication date: 04 July 2019
\n Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
\n

Winner of the Duff Cooper Prize for History, the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography, the American Library in Paris Award, the Franco-British Society Literary Prize, and the Grand Prix de la Biographie Politique du Touquet, this book is a masterful and awe-inspiring read. Max Hastings, in his Sunday Times review, hailed it as an outstanding biography.

In the early summer of 1940, France faced an overwhelming invasion by German troops, leading to a swift surrender. The French government, under the leadership of Marshal Pétain, initiated peace negotiations and signed an armistice. However, one lesser-known junior French general refused to accept defeat and made his way to England. On June 18, he addressed his fellow countrymen via the BBC, urging them to gather in London to rally behind him.

Regardless of the circumstances, the flame of French resistance must endure and cannot be extinguished. At that pivotal moment, Charles de Gaulle entered the historical narrative. Throughout the remainder of the war, de Gaulle frequently clashed with Churchill and Roosevelt, insisting on being recognized as the true embodiment of France. He engaged in heated arguments and displayed a prickly, stubborn, aloof, and self-contained demeanor. Nevertheless, through sheer force of personality and unwavering determination, de Gaulle managed to secure France's recognition as one of the victorious Allies, occupying its own zone in defeated Germany.

For a decade following 1958, de Gaulle served as the President of France's Fifth Republic, a nation he had envisioned and continues to shape today. His pursuit of a specific vision for France challenged American hegemony, led France to leave NATO, and twice vetoed British entry into the European Community. His controversial decolonization of Algeria brought France to the brink of civil war and resulted in numerous assassination attempts.

Julian Jackson's comprehensive and meticulously researched biography offers a deep insight into the life and times of Charles de Gaulle, shedding light on his remarkable achievements and controversial decisions. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in French history, global politics, and the fascinating personality of one of the 20th century's most influential leaders.

\n Weight: 686g\n
Dimension: 130 x 196 x 51 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780141049533\n \n