A Brief History of France, Revised and Updated

When we think of France, we tend to think of fine food and wine, the elegant boulevards of Paris or the chic beaches of St Tropez. Yet, as the largest country in Europe, France is home to extraordinary diversity.

The idea of 'Frenchness' emerged through 2,000 years of history, and it is this riveting story, from the Roman conquest of Gaul to the present day, that Cecil Jenkins tells in A Brief History of France, Revised and Updated. This book explores the forging of this great nation through its significant people, events, and fascinating culture.

As Jenkins unfolds this narrative, he shows why the French began to see themselves as so different from the rest of Europe. Yet, he also reflects on why today the French face the same problems with regard to identity as so many other European nations.