Rod Kedward (1937–2023)

Wonerfully readable general history of France, tracing the threads of clericalism, fascists, republicanism, monarchists, Drefusards and anti-Drefusards and their clashes across the years.

As someone whose history of Europe was filtered through a very Anglo lense, it's compelling and revealing to understand the degree to which the rise of Vichy was based itself on anti-Republican, anti-secular, anti-Dreyfusard movements over the last 40 years; the degree to which the pro-and anti-independence movements that formed around the Algeria question were a re-hash of that fight, or that even today the Le Pen family's historical involvement in precisely those areas informs their current politics.… (más)

In 80 pages, Kedward manages to explain how the French in urban and rural areas reacted to the German occupation of their country in 1940-45. He explains how the Vichy governemnt came about, how Marshall Petain became its leader and how the Resistance was organized. He also covers the rise of General de Gaulle and how the British & American authorities may have missed opportunities to accept French assistance at various phases of the conflict. While a concise, dense tract, it is very readable.… (más)