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The Shortest History of France: From Roman Gaul to Revolution and Cultural Radiance: A Global Story for Our Times
France is the most popular tourist destination in the world, thanks to its unsurpassed cultural and historical riches. Gothic architecture, Louis XIV opulence, revolutionary spirit, café society, haute cuisine and couture . . . what could be more quintessentially French?
Rarely, however, do we think of France as a melting pot, and yet historian Colin Jones asserts it's no less a mélange of foreign ingredients than the United States, and by some measures more. As nationalism and anti-immigration rhetoric surge in France (and elsewhere), The Shortest History of France presents a portrait of a nation whose politics and society have always been shaped by global forces. Grounded in up-to-date historical scholarship that avoids the traps of national exceptionalism, Jones reminds us that it was only after the first millennium of French history that a nation-state began to emerge.
France has been home to the Enlightenment, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and The Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, its darker moments have included the Vichy regime and the Algerian War, along with persistent racism, police brutality, and civil unrest. From the serious to the sublime, The Shortest History of France is a dynamic, global story enhanced with touches of cultural radiance—truly a retelling for our times.
Rarely, however, do we think of France as a melting pot, and yet historian Colin Jones asserts it's no less a mélange of foreign ingredients than the United States, and by some measures more. As nationalism and anti-immigration rhetoric surge in France (and elsewhere), The Shortest History of France presents a portrait of a nation whose politics and society have always been shaped by global forces. Grounded in up-to-date historical scholarship that avoids the traps of national exceptionalism, Jones reminds us that it was only after the first millennium of French history that a nation-state began to emerge.
France has been home to the Enlightenment, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and The Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, its darker moments have included the Vichy regime and the Algerian War, along with persistent racism, police brutality, and civil unrest. From the serious to the sublime, The Shortest History of France is a dynamic, global story enhanced with touches of cultural radiance—truly a retelling for our times.
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Published May 6, 2025
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About the author
Colin Jones
153 books27 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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August 16, 2025
This very subjective account of French history was riddled with errors - such as incorrectly stating the “centre” vs “centre right” lost steam in face of Macron, and quite far fetched revisionism such as praising de Gaulle for having a cultural minister to protect secondary languages he masterminded eliminating Occitan and other languages. The sociological tilt and biased vibes undercuts the narrative.
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