jjares reviewed History of France: A Captivating Guide to French History on + 3270 more book reviews
Jason Zenobia charmingly reads this history of France without a stutter or a stammer over the fascinating array of French and other names. This history of the French people starts with the 1940 discovery of the Lascaux cave paintings. They have proven to be from 15,000 to 17,000 years ago. People migrations are mentioned in relation to Gaul and then the discussion begins about the Gauls and the Romans.
Captivating History highlights some of the most important people to affect Gaul/France, such as Vercingetorix, Charlemagne, Joan of Arc, and the French kings, particularly Louis XIV. Through Louis XIV's excesses and the kings that followed him, the reader gets a good understanding of the causes and activities of the French Revolution. Of course, a chunk of the book covered Napoleon and his wars.
Napoleon had a profound effect; he ended the French Revolution, created the Napoleonic Code of Laws (used in Louisiana to this day), and changed feudal Europe in several ways with his emphasis on freedom and social equality.
The Industrial Revolution did not start in France but they quickly jumped on the bandwagon because of the increased prosperity. There was a revival of French arts and culture because of the stability in the country. However, the country France has been watching with worried eyes, Germany, suddenly emerged as an aggressive country in Europe. Then, there is the development of the first World War. But I found most interesting to be the analysis of France between the wars.
Much of the final chapters dealt with World War II and its aftermath. I vaguely remember Charles de Gaulle but this discussion of what he did was enlightening. Then, the conclusion was most interesting because of the collaboration vs. resistance views of the French. It seems that after all this time, it has come out that more French collaborated than resisted during the war.
The photos and maps helped explain some of the discussions. However, "Illustration 55: Oradour-sur-Glane, France" was the most evocative. The city sits as it did on the date following the massacre of 600 civilians by the Germans. This book concentrates on the highlights and major points of French history. In so few pages, it would be impossible to offer more.
Captivating History highlights some of the most important people to affect Gaul/France, such as Vercingetorix, Charlemagne, Joan of Arc, and the French kings, particularly Louis XIV. Through Louis XIV's excesses and the kings that followed him, the reader gets a good understanding of the causes and activities of the French Revolution. Of course, a chunk of the book covered Napoleon and his wars.
Napoleon had a profound effect; he ended the French Revolution, created the Napoleonic Code of Laws (used in Louisiana to this day), and changed feudal Europe in several ways with his emphasis on freedom and social equality.
The Industrial Revolution did not start in France but they quickly jumped on the bandwagon because of the increased prosperity. There was a revival of French arts and culture because of the stability in the country. However, the country France has been watching with worried eyes, Germany, suddenly emerged as an aggressive country in Europe. Then, there is the development of the first World War. But I found most interesting to be the analysis of France between the wars.
Much of the final chapters dealt with World War II and its aftermath. I vaguely remember Charles de Gaulle but this discussion of what he did was enlightening. Then, the conclusion was most interesting because of the collaboration vs. resistance views of the French. It seems that after all this time, it has come out that more French collaborated than resisted during the war.
The photos and maps helped explain some of the discussions. However, "Illustration 55: Oradour-sur-Glane, France" was the most evocative. The city sits as it did on the date following the massacre of 600 civilians by the Germans. This book concentrates on the highlights and major points of French history. In so few pages, it would be impossible to offer more.
