Publisher's Synopsis
A fascinating journey through the history of France. General Charles de Gaulle said: France cannot be France without greatness. The Gallic country is famous for its gastronomy, its landscapes, its culture and its history, in which legendary figures such as Vercingétorix, Charlemagne, Joan of Arc, Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette and Napoleon stand out, as well as unforgettable battles such as Crécy, Agincourt, San Quentin, Bailén or Waterloo. In this volume, John Julius Norwich, one of the leading historians of our time, offers us a complete as well as concise history of France, a country that has always fascinated him. From the conquest by the Romans to the end of the Second World War, passing through the great medieval dynasties, the consolidation of the Old Regime, the Revolution, the Vichy or the Resistance, Norwich accompanies us on a journey through twenty centuries of history, often violent but always fascinating. Known heroes and villains parade through these pages, but also praiseworthy forgotten characters. With the skill, elegance and humor that characterize his pen, Norwich provides us with a masterful and vivid account of the history of the country that has perhaps most influenced European history and culture.
