A History of France

John Julius Norwich―called a “true master of narrative history” by Simon Sebag Montefiore―returns with the book he has spent his distinguished career wanting to write, A History of France: a portrait of the past two centuries of the country he loves best. Beginning with Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul in the first century BC, this study of French history comprises a cast of legendary characters―Charlemagne, Louis XIV, Napoleon, Joan of Arc and Marie Antionette, to name a few―as Norwich chronicles France’s often violent, always fascinating history. From the French Revolution―after which neither France, nor the world, would be the same again―to the storming of the Bastille, from the Vichy regime and the Resistance to the end of the Second World War, A History of France is packed with heroes and villains, battles and rebellion, stories so enthralling that Norwich declared, “I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed writing a book more.” With his celebrated stylistic panache and expert command of detail, Norwich writes in an inviting, intimate tone, and with a palpable affection for France. One of our greatest contemporary historians has deftly crafted a comprehensive yet concise portrait of the country's historical sweep. An “engaging, enthusiastic, sympathetic, funny” journey through French history from the New York Times– bestselling author of Absolute Monarchs ( The Wall Street Journal ). Beginning with Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul in the first century BC, this study of French history comprises a cast of legendary characters―Charlemagne, Louis XIV, Napoleon, Joan of Arc, and Marie Antoinette, to name a few―as John Julius Norwich chronicles France’s often violent, always fascinating history. From the French Revolution―after which neither France nor the world would be the same again―to the storming of the Bastille, from the Vichy regime and the Resistance to the end of the Second World War, A History of France is packed with heroes and villains, battles and rebellion—written with both an expert command of detail and a lively appreciation for the subject matter by this “true master of narrative history” (Simon Sebag Montefiore). An "engaging, enthusiastic, sympathetic, funny" journey through French history from the New York Times-bestselling author of Absolute Monarchs (The Wall Street Journal). Beginning with Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul in the first century BC, this study of French history comprises a cast of legendary characters Charlemagne, Louis XIV, Napoleon, Joan of Arc, and Marie Antoinette, to name a few as John Julius Norwich chronicles France's often violent, always fascinating history. From the French Revolution after which neither France nor the world would be the same again to the storming of the Bastille, from the Vichy regime and the Resistance to the end of the Second World War, A History of France is packed with heroes and villains, battles and rebellion'written with both an expert command of detail and a lively appreciation for the subject matter by this "true master of narrative history" (Simon Sebag Montefiore) Preface Maps 1. Very Dark Indeed: 58 BC–843 2. Their Own Destruction Sure: 843–1151 3. The Gift of Excalibur: 1151–1223 4. The Fatal Tower: 1223–1326 5. A Captured King: 1326–80 6. A Foregone Conclusion: 1380–1453 7. The Universal Spider: 1453–83 8. A Warm, Sunlit Land: 1483–1515 9. With His Usual Flourish: 1515–47 10. ‘Well worth a Mass’: 1547–1643 11. ‘L’Etat c’est moi’: 1643–1715 12. The Writing on the Wall: 1715–89 13. ‘I am indeed your king’: 1789–93 14. ‘Pas de faiblesse!’: 1793–5 15. A Blessing or a Curse?: 1795–1815 16. The Perfect Compromise: 1815–48 17. ‘A symbol of national glory’: 1848–52 18. A Sphinx Without a Riddle: 1852–70 19. The Last Manifestation: 1870–3 20. ‘J’accuse!’: 1873–1935 21. The Cross of Lorraine: 1935–45 Epilogue Photo Insert Acknowledgements and Illustration Credits Suggestions for Further Reading Index Very dark indeed, 58 BC-843 Their own destruction sure, 843-1151 The gift of Excalibur, 1151-1223 The fatal tower, 1223-1326 A captured king, 1326-80 A foregone conclusion, 1380-1453 The universal spider, 1453-83 A warm, sunlit land, 1483-1515 With his usual flourish, 1515-47 'Well worth a mass', 1547-1643 'L'État c'est moi', 1643-1715 The writing on the wall, 1715-89 'I am indeed your king', 1789-93 'Pas de faiblesse!', 1793-5 A blessing or a curse?, 1795-1815 The perfect compromise, 1815-48 'A symbol of national glory', 1848-52 A sphinx without a riddle, 1852-70 The last manifestation, 1870-3 'J'accuse!', 1873-1935 The Cross of Lorraine, 1935-45. Chronicles the history of France, from Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul in the mid-first century BC to the end of World War II.