A History of France

by John Julius Norwich

John Julius Norwich--called a "true master of narrative history" by Simon Sebag Montefiore--returns with the book he has spent his distinguished career wanting to write, A History of France a portrait of the past two centuries of the country he loves best.

Beginning with Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul in the first century BC, this study of French history comprises a cast of legendary characters--Charlemagne, Louis XIV, Napoleon, Joan of Arc and Marie Antionette, to name a few--as Norwich chronicles France's often violent, always fascinating history. From the French Revolution--after which neither France, nor the world, would be the same again--to the storming of the Bastille, from the Vichy regime and the Resistance to the end of the Second World War, A History of France is packed with heroes and villains, battles and rebellion, stories so enthralling that Norwich declared, "I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed writing a book more."

With his celebrated stylistic panache and expert command of detail, one of our greatest contemporary historians has deftly captured France's sweeping historical trajectory in an inviting, intimate tone, and with a palpable affection for the enchanting landscape and richly colorful culture.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, France, European History, Audiobook, Historical, Politics

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

John Julius Norwich was an English historian, writer, and broadcaster known for his engaging books on European history and culture. The son of diplomat and politician Duff Cooper and socialite Lady Diana Manners, he received an elite education at Eton, Strasbourg, and Oxford, and served in the Foreign Service before dedicating himself to writing full-time.
He authored acclaimed works on Norman Sicily, Venice, Byzantium, the Mediterranean, and the Papacy, as well as popular anthologies like Christmas Crackers. He was also a familiar voice and face in British media, presenting numerous television documentaries and radio programs. A champion of cultural heritage, he supported causes such as the Venice in Peril Fund and the World Monuments Fund.
Norwich’s wide-ranging output, wit, and accessible style made him a beloved figure in historical writing.

Reviews

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

“La France ne peut être la France sans la grandeur”
“France cannot be France without greatness.”
~ Charles de Gaulle

A History of France is a concise, fast-paced yet insightful overview of the history of France by John Julius Norwich. Described as a “true master of narrative history”, Norwich proves once again why he truly deserves the title. “A History of France” is sadly his last work: Lord Norwich died in June at the age of 88.

From Julius Caesar in Gaul to De Gaulle, The book covers nearly 2000 years of French history in about 400 pages. This book does not start with prehistorical France as the author aptly puts “Pre-history belongs to the Historians”. Instead we begin with Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul in the first century BC. From Vercingetorix's attempt to unite the Gauls against the Roman Empire to Charlemagne and from Francis I to Napoleon, Norwich chronicles France’s fascinating history. Some of the highlights include the coronation of Charlemagne; the Crusades in Holy Lands, The Hundred Years War, The French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, The Second & Third Republic and the finally the Two World Wars.

The book can be divided into 2 parts; The first part covers the dark & medieval ages from Clovis I, the Capetian dynasty, the House of Valois up-to Napoleon III with 16 Louises in between. The second half covers the French Revolution, Civil Wars and the 2 World wars till the liberation of France from Nazi occupation in 1944.

The narration is informative and full of wit & humor which make the book immensely readable. The entire book is full of character sketches and peppered with interesting anecdotes and stories of kings & other politicians including Robert the Pious, Louis the Fat and Philip the Fair among others.

Sample this:
When Louis XVI was woken with news of the storming of the Bastille he sleepily asked: "Is it a Rebellion?" "No," replied Duc de la Rochefoucauld, "it's a Revolution."

While the stories are entertaining, you feel the book is focused more on kings and emperors and their personal affairs than politics of the time. It would had been great to read more about some more great battles, French Renaissance & the Enlightenment Era, French colonisation in US & Asia instead. If you are looking for in-depth history of France, this book may not be ideal for you.

Having said that, Norwich's book is for the general public, not for the historians. It is to be read as a general history book but not as an historical document. The author deserves full credit for his efforts in simplifying the French history (especially the French revolution and history of the Second & Third Republic). Above all, the book is written by someone who loves France. The author attributes his love of France to childhood travels and to his early life in France and the book reflects that passion. This book is a sort of ‘thank-offering to France’ for all the happiness that glorious country has given him over the years.

The digital review copy I received didn’t have any maps or pictures but the physical copy is said to be well illustrated, and has maps, notes and suggestions for Further Reading which will surely add immense value to the book.

Overall if you love History and want a brief overview of the history of France, this book is ideal. I have never enjoyed reading a history book more than this one.


Many Thanks to Grove Atlantic for the ARC.

[Numidica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, accessible one-volume history of France for busy people. John Norwich had a unique perspective on France as the son of the WW2 British Ambassador to France, Duff Cooper; his early immersion in the affairs and language of France informs his understanding and gives life to his narration of history. Honestly, the Medieval history is full of dull, sad stories (as was the entire epoch) with a few exceptions, like Eleanor of Aquitaine, but Norwich shines in his recitation of the exploits of French leaders from Francois Premier to DeGaulle. He gives Louis-Philippe his due (a king whom I spent at most three minutes considering in my college European History course), and makes the period from Napoleon to WW1 much clearer to me; I had not realized the high level of competence of the French governments from Louis-Philippe up until Napoleon III's disaster at Sedan. The tragedy of the Occupation is dealt with from the heart, as Norwich was often a witness, after the war, to the presentation by his father of the King's Medal for Courage to members of the Resistance - the few who survived.

As one who has been studying the French language as a hobby for ten years, John Norwich makes me feel a little better by noting that French is undoubtedly the most difficult of the Romance languages for a foreigner to master. In his straightforward gratitude for the contributions of France to the world in every sphere - the arts, government, medicine, philosophy, engineering, sciences, and of course, cuisine, he convincingly explains the rewards of knowing French and France. I have already found myself going back to this book to refresh my memory on a particular event or revisit one of his better turns of phrase. Again, this book is a readable history for those who want know the overarching story of France's history, not a book for specialists; I enjoyed the clear writing, and the writer's transparent love of his subject.

[happy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With his final book, John Norwich; who passed away just about the time this was published, once again delivers a very readable and entertaining look at history. This narrative looks at the history of France from the time of Julius Caesar’s conquest of Gaul to the end of World War II and the rise of Charles DeGualle, appox 2000 yrs. Coming in at just under 400 pages of text in the edition that I read, this history is by no means comprehensive. In fact, he covers the time from Caesar to Charlemagne in just 14 pages! He takes only 18 pages to cover next 300 years. The pace slows down a bit after that and as the narrative comes closer to the present, Mr. Norwich does cover events more in depth.

Mr Norwich’s writing style is almost conversational. He digresses at points, sometimes wanders off on tangents for a paragraph or two. When he does this, he comes back to the topic at hand with a comment to the effect of, well that really isn’t the point of this book, so let’s get back to the topic.

As I mentioned above, the page count is quite short, so this is mainly a French political history. The French cultural contributions are hardly mentioned. He covers all the Kings and gives his opinion on what kind of ruler they were. The ones he considers important to France becoming a nation state, are covered much more in depth. Those Kings include various Louis’ (including maybe the most important Louis – Louis XIV)

His coverage of the French Revolution is also well done. Mr. Norwich looks both the how and why of the revolution, as well as how it devolved from the high ideals that it started with to Napoleon crowing himself Emperor in 1801 in 12 yrs.

In addition to the public lives of the various rulers, the author give a peek at their private ones as well. He gossips about the relationships the Kings had with their Queens as well as their many, many mistresses. In discussing the Royal Mistresses, he tells how being the King’s Mistress almost became an official court position. In many cases they became important and valued advisors. In relating the tales of their personal lives, the author shares some vary salacious tales.

As the story reaches the 19th century, the author gets a bit more in-depth in his story telling. He does a superb job of telling of the end of the Bourbon dynasty. Surprisingly, the author considers the last King of France, Louis-Phillippe, one of the better Kings. The author's opinion is that he was head and shoulders above his immediate predecessors. The rise of Napoleon III and his political demise is also covered as well as the various Republics.

Finally, the author choses to end his narrative with end of World War II and the rise of De Gaulle. His stated reason for ending with WW II is that he has memories of the people and events, so the story is no longer history. As the son of British Ambassador to France during and immediately after the war, Mr. Norwich actually met the General and he shares his first hand opinions of him that are not flattering. He also provides other people’s opinions that agree with his.

All is all, this is a delightful read, a good introduction to French history, but by no means an in depth look at any of the eras. For someone who a good knowledge of French History, there is probably nothing new. That said it is a good primer and a delightful, fun read. I would rate this a solid 4 stars and I will miss waiting for Mr. Norwich’s next project

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Julius Norwich first visited France in 1936, when he was nearly seven. Ever since then he had a long association with the country and, indeed, this book reads much like a love letter to France. Sadly, John Julius Norwich died just a short time ago and he will be a great loss. I really enjoyed this warm and witty book, which takes the reader through the history of France, from the Roman invasion of Gaul to the end of the Second World War.

Norwich was perfectly placed to write this book. His father, Duff Cooper, was the ambassador to France during WWII. His mother, Lady Diana Manners, was a famous hostess. He met many of the famous, infamous, politically important and socially fashionable of the time. In a way, this book has much of the same, gossipy feel. It is very much of an overview of the country’s history and is not meant to appeal to those looking for deep, historical depth. However, this book will enthuse you about France, its people and its history. You can go back and read in greater detail about things which interest you, but this is a fun, enjoyable and great introduction to the history of this great nation and readers will miss the intimate writing style of Norwich, who was passionate in his writing and keen to share his enthusiasm with the reader.

[Sud666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sir Norwich's "A History of France" was a little shorter than I expected. Nonetheless, it is still an exceptional historical book that will serve as an excellent survey and general overview of the history of France.

Starting in 58 BC, Norwich tells the story of the birth of the French nation. His writing style is informative and imminently readable. He has a wry sense of humor and will always through in tidbits that enlighten, as well as entertain. For example, when telling of the martyr Saint Denis, third century Bishop of Paris, who when beheaded calmly picked up his head and walked several miles to the site of the abbey that bears his name- Norwich can not help but quoting Madame du Deffande's witty rejoinder of "c'est le premier pas qui coûte!" ( It's the first step that counts ).

Moving through the Merovingians and the Carolingians, we see the start of the development of the modern nation of France in a series of Kings based out of Paris. From the wars against the English, all the way to the Revolution and Napoleon and ending, timely enough, with the end of the Second World War- this is a superb introduction to French history written in an engaging fashion that will appeal to history lovers or even the casual reader who wishes to know a little bit more about France.

A truly wonderful book and one I enjoyed. I would highly recommend this as a starting point for anyone looking to learn about France and its long, storied history. Norwich's notes about which famous monuments or buildings still exist are a gem for someone like myself who loves to travel. It is always a great feeling to find a building that you've read about.

[Titus Hjelm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my… I really should have checked the author’s biography before buying this book. Even the title is misleading: It is not a history of France, but a history of French kings, emperors and presidents. Ironically, we learn extremely little about the _people_ who brought Europe democracy. It is a ‘great man’ history also literally: the only things we learn about French women is whether they were extraordinarily beautiful or extraordinarily fat (‘corpulent’). The author does not suppress his politics, either: Like for any true monarchist since Burke, for him the revolution of 1789 is a ‘catastrophe’, not to speak of the revolutions of the 19th century. This 19th century attitude and perspective are explained by and, to a degree, can be excused because of the author’s age, of course. And there are some good, dry jokes—made better by the author’s dry style of reading the audiobook. But listening to this book makes one wonder what the image of history is like for people who only read popular histories, which are, almost without exception, massively conservative.

[TBV (on hiatus)]

Erudite and humorous, France: A History: from Gaul to de Gaulle by John Julius Norwich (15 September 1929 – 1 June 2018) is a delight. If you want an in-depth history this is not the book for you, as the history herein commences in 58 BC and finishes in 1945, all in under 400 pages. However, if you want an overview of the history of France, an introduction to that history, a recap of what you already know or simply a very entertaining read, this book is ideal. It is written in John Julius Norwich’s inimitable chatty narrative style, and there is never a dull moment in the book.

This book is well illustrated, and has maps, notes and Suggestions for Further Reading.

John Julius Norwich, your books have given me much pleasure. I shall miss you.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

JJN's rich and creamy narrative history of France, not to be missed unless you're totally jaded on the topic. I love his style and recommend all of his books. And in the best tradition of Gibbon, he leaves in the naughty bits.

[Melisende · Rating 3 out of 5]

Norwich has an affinity with France stemming from early childhood, so no great surprise that this would be something he would eventual write about. And, by his own admission, this would be his last book (sadly his words were prophetic).

Norwich's intended audience is not - as he writes - the academic or historian, but the lay reader - the general public. It is to be read as a general history (he does skip over great chunks with mere paragraphs) but that is his intent - to encapsulate this history of France "from Gaul to de Gaulle" in a mere 400 pages. Norwich achieves what he sets out to do - give the reader a sense of the author's love for a country not of his own.

This was a no-brainer for me - I love Norwich as an author and writer, and French history is something I have an interest in. Whilst for me, it was a quick an easy read, covering a lot of territory that I already knew, this is a teaser, a stepping stone for the reader to embark on their own journey through the annals of history.

He will be sadly missed, by myself and many others. Enjoy.

[Nel · Rating 2 out of 5]

youd be better off reading wiki articles.

[Reading Badger · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are an avid learner about the history of France, the book of John Julius Norwich is a great start.
First of all, thank you NetGalley for giving us the chance to review this book. It represents the thorough work of a passionate author. 400 pages of the history of France, divided into 2 parts.

Read the full review: https://readingbadger.club/2019/01/21...

It’s easy to figure out that the author adores France. From the way, he speaks about the great Age of Charlemagne or the Carolingian kings, the Crusades, the court of Louis XIV, or the Revolution. Although you won’t find much about people’s history, as the author was mentioning, you will learn about the country’s growth and development.

[Cathal Kenneally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

A rollercoaster ride through nearly two thousand years of French history. It's a concise history, so if you want an , in depth history you'll have to look elsewhere. That's not to say anything wrong about this book. It's good enough to get you started

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

France – From Gaul to De Gaulle – A sort of love letter to France

The second Viscount Norwich or the late John Julius Cooper if you prefer, wrote and finished his final book, not long before he died. This book is similar to an ode or a love letter to France, all but a short one. This book he states in his preface (yes, I do read them), states that this book is not aimed at the historians amongst us, but the general reader.

As a historian, my attitude to France, nice country shame about the people, is not all together positive. While having a working knowledge of French history, it is not an area that I particularly find interesting. But that is me. So, I could come to this with a fresh pair of eyes and might learn something in the process. This is a lengthy tome at 400 pages but fortunately it is not as dry as dust, it is an interesting read.

Cooper might not like this comparison if he were alive, but reading this book is like listening to your Grandfather take you by the hand as if telling you a story. There is something of the comfort blanket being wrapped around you, rather than a book that lectures you about the great and good in French history. We even learn that he first crossed the channel to France in 1936, and so began a love affair with a country other than his own. The tone is very much conversational, dotted with anecdotes, a device which most historians use to remember facts and details around an event.

This is a well written and researched book that takes us gently through French history and makes it easy for those who are not historians to remember parts of French history hitherto had been unknown to them. This is an excellent way to teach the facts, especially if you are about to visit France for the first time, without being preached at.

For a history book this is a fun and interesting read for any reader.

[Alex Sarll]

Not the first John Julius Norwich book to open with him saying it was probably his last – but alas, this time he was right. The publisher approved me for the Netgalley ARC on Friday, and on Saturday I saw the news of his departure (in the paper, like in olden times, because apart from me he's apparently not the sort to generate a torrent of Facebook obituary posts). Like everything else I've read by him, it's a masterclass in how to do narrative history well. It's learned, staggeringly so, while also being happy to acknowledge that it's skipping over minor Merovingians and Carolingians, or every back-and-forth of the Hundred Years War, and thank goodness for that (seriously, I did the later Carolingians at A Level and they're a right slog. Basically a random wheel of Charles/Otto/Lothar the Fat/Bald/Simple, at each other's throats for a century plus). Similarly, when he admits that keeping the Wars of Spanish and Austrian Succession distinct can be tricky even for the professional, I was so glad it wasn't just me. Conversely, he's not just playing the hits: yes, the Sun King, the Revolution, Napoleon and Dreyfus are all present and correct, but where it's necessary or illuminating the book is also happy to pay the requisite attention to the likes Louis XI, 'the Universal Spider', a fascinating figure of whom I was entirely unaware.

Norwich also remains to the last a thoroughly genial and humane guide, but one not afraid to judge where judgements are deserved – and though one might not always agree with him, nor does he ever seem unfair or precipitous, or engaged in special pleading. Which you'd think might be a bare minimum for publication; alas, it sometimes seems as if it's instead a positive hindrance in an age where hot takes are as useful for selling a 'brainy book' [spit] as a clickbait short read. Norwich, though, never pretends to objectivity, never tries to use sleight of hand to get us going his way - he offers the facts, with commentary and conclusion. He has his favourites – among them the gallant - if dishonest, and somewhat prone to anti-Protestant pogroms - Francis I (one of the stars of Norwich's previous book, Four Princes), but he doesn't try to weasel out of their flaws; nor does he deny the virtues which are a necessary part of the monstrous Robespierre. On the other hand, when the story does run into a wholly wretched character – such as the clueless reactionary Charles X, at once tyrannical and inept - Norwich isn't afraid to administer the necessary verbal smackdown.

And there's wit, of course, plenty of wit. Sometimes all it needs is a deadpan report of the facts, as with Henry VIII's sister Mary, her appetites at least the equal of her brother, pretty much shagging her husband Louis XII to death. Sometimes it's a telling phrase, as when the Capetians are credited with "transforming [France] from a Carolingian custard into a nation". Above all, though, he's a master of the dry but hysterically funny footnote: "Clement was in fact Leo’s second successor. In between came the mildly ridiculous Adrian VI, but he need not concern us here." Elsewhere a footnote will sometimes give a tantalising glimpse before snatching it away, as when Norwich suggests we Google Dr William Buckland, the pioneering palaeontologist who also ate the heart of the Sun King. Another details the prodigious number of byblows managed by Augustus the Strong – though I was surprised there wasn't room for one on the peculiar delusions of Marshal Blucher (which reminds me, how had I never registered the name of Napoleon's subordinate Marshal Grouchy before? Now there's a cartoon grump waiting to happen).

Of course, once you get close to the present, there's also the perspective which comes with having grown up close to these events. Norwich recuses himself from addressing postwar France, and I can see his point because you have to end a history somewhere. But how often do you get to read an account of Charles de Gaulle by a man who once nicked his pudding, or of the scandalous Madame de Steinheil by someone who once bumped into her in Hove? I mean, such was the effect of immemorial wisdom that Norwich conveyed, part of you suspects that's only the beginning; I wouldn't be too surprised to learn Norwich was also vaguely acquainted with Vercingetorix (and I'm pretty sure I have him correctly separated out from Asterix et al, though if I'm honest I got through most of the first millennium while a bit drunk and waiting for an especially tardy night bus). Not that the general's pie earns him an easy ride; Norwich is still prepared to admit that, on a larger stage, "The folly and pettiness of de Gaulle pass belief". Granted, Duff Cooper, while undoubtedly a significant figure, tends not to rate quite so many mentions in histories not written by his son. But that sense of history being written by a wise and understanding coeval is rare, and rarer still without Norwich. Despite the final pages making an effort to sour my fondness for him by describing Ravel's Bolero as "dreadful", he will be missed.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written history of France, and the swan song of one of the most prolific popular historians. It is a little ironic that the first book of his that I read is the last that he wrote. The book opens with the author's memory of meeting de Gaulle and closes with his reflections on French culture. French history is so intertwined with that of Britain. However, the book does seem to be titled wrongly, saying it runs from Gaul to de Gaulle. The book's narrative ends abruptly in 1945. But de Gaulle had a very long career after that. All of his time as President of France is left out, including major events such as the Algerian War and of course, 1968.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A History of France is a brief overview of 2000+ years of history with a strong slant towards the events of the last few centuries. Given the breadth and complexity of the material covered, Norwich does an admirable job of presenting enough information to make events generally understandable. His breezy and humorous tone also makes this an eminently readable work.

[Andrew Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Julius Norwich Chronicles The Sprawling, Expansive History Of France - From The Age Of The Roman Republic To The Second World War.

John Julius Norwich begins the Preface to his 2018 A History Of France, with the phrase "Toute ma vie, je me suis fait une certaine idée de la France." It means, "All my life, I have had a certain conception of France." He proceeds to briefly describe his teenage years traveling to France on various diplomatic trips with his mother, the Lady Diana Manners, & his father Sir Alfred Duff Cooper, as well as his momentous first meeting with the legendary French general, Charles de Gaulle, which consisted of a brief exchange that began with a young (& hungry) John Julius shyly asking the 6-foot 5 general, "Excuse-moi, mon général, mais est-ce que vous allez manger votre tarte aux pommes?" He describes the aftermath : "It was my only conversation with the great man; unlike most of those he had with my father or Winston Churchill it could hardly have been more friendly." Lord Norwich ends his introduction on a bittersweet note which reflects the profound degree of affection he possessed for the subject of his final written work : "I know I have said it before, but this is almost certainly the last book that I shall ever write. I have loved every moment of the work on it, and see it as a sort of thank-offering to France for all the happiness that glorious country has given me over the years."

This edition of A History Of France is published by Grove Press, an imprint of Grove Atlantic, & distributed by Publisher's Group West. It is 361 pages in length & split into 21 chapters with a short index at the end of the book. There is no dedicated bibliography but the author has done an absolutely stellar job with the supplementary notes which are interspersed throughout the volume, & there are 3 high-quality maps depicting France, Europe, & the Crusades which are extremely useful as the reader progresses through this entry.

In the first chapter, Very Dark Indeed : 58 B.C. - 843, Norwich explores the early history of France, beginning with Caesar's campaigns in Cisalpine Gaul, which, according to the author's insightful expanded notes located at the bottom of each page, means 'Gaul on the hither side of the Alps', & he continues on through the early Dark Ages into the Age of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor. Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul pits him against the resourceful Vercingetorix, the Gallic chieftain of the Averni tribe who had settled in France's Auvergne region, & according to Caesar's commentaries on the conquest of Gaul, De Bello Gallico, Vercingetorix's force of 30,000 Gauls achieved an important victory over the Romans at Gergovia, in the Massif Central, inflicting casualties of 700 legionaries & 46 centurions out of a combined estimated force of 20,000 - 45,000 Romans, auxiliaries, & allies. Vercingetorix had committed a serious tactical error earlier in the war by eschewing his own 'scorched earth' policy when he refused to raze the rich Gallic settlement of Avaricum before the incoming rush of Casar's Roman legions, who successfully laid siege to & captured it along with all of its valuable resources, & Caesar achieves his revenge the next year at the Battle of Alesia despite Vercingetorix receiving aid from a force of 10,000 Gauls led by his cousin Vercassivellaunus.

Also in Chapter 1 the author makes a compelling statement stressing the vital role the Benedictine order of monks played in the preservation of agriculture & the written word during the intellectual vacuum of the Dark Ages, which began roughly during the reigns of the 27 sovereigns of the Merovingian dynasty : "The black-robed Benedictines were communities in the fullest sense of the word, dedicated to total obedience & hard physical labor, principally agricultural. But they also found time to study, to copy manuscripts - immensely important in the centuries before the invention of printing - & generally to keep alive a little spark of learning & humanity in the bleak, depressing world in which they lived." The foundation of the Benedictine order can be traced to an Italian monk who lived during the 6th century, Benedict of Nursia, & his sister Scholastica.

John Julius moves on to discuss the gradual transition from the Carolingian lineage to the Capetian dynasty as well as the influx of Norsemen led by Rollo the Viking, the chieftain who was invested with the greater portion of Normandy in the early 10th century by one of the later Carolingian sovereigns, King Charles III the Simple, in Chapter 2, Their Own Destruction Sure: 843 - 1151. The Capetians initially utilized a system of elections to choose their kings, such as the popular vote in which Hugh Capet won over his chief rival, the Carolingian Duke Charles of Lower Lorraine, in the year 987. Hugh was the great-grandson of the Count of Anjou & Blois, Robert the Strong, & Norwich's ever-helpful notes inform the reader that the name Capet is derived from the Latin term capetus, which means 'wearing a cape'. The Capetians were proud of their electoral system, & early on during the voting proceedings between Charles & Hugh, the Archbishop of Rouen significantly commented that, "The throne is not acquired by hereditary right; he who is elected to it should be distinguished not merely by the nobility of his birth but by the wisdom of his mind." While the Capetian line officially ended with the death of Philp the Fair in 1328, the royal houses of Valois & Bourbon which followed are both considered cadet branches of the Capetians, so the dynasty technically lasted approximately 861 years, until the abdication of Louis Philippe I, the Citizen King, in 1848.

The fall of the crusader state of Edessa in 1144 followed a 25-day siege laid by an army which was led by the Atabeg of Mosul, Imad-ed-Din Zengi, & created shockwaves of panic which reverberated throughout Christendom & led the newly-elected Pope Eugenius III to declare a second Holy Crusade the next year with the French King Louis VII at its helm. Eugenius had been suffering a period of estrangement with Rome after being forced into exile by the zealous monk, Arnold of Brecia, who had gained control of the populace in 1145, & those who are curious to learn more about this exciting story can read about the pope's reconciliation with the Eternal City & Arnold's subsequent capture by Frederick Barbarossa in Volume 2 of Norwich's duology on Norman occupation of Italy, The Kingdom In The Sun : 1130 - 1193. Many of John Julius' books feature historical events that are interconnected, & while some may be merely touched upon in some entries, they are explored with much more depth in others, such as the various overlapping scenarios which occur in the Byzantium trilogy & his history of the Catholic popes, Absolute Monarchs. This gives Norwich's written works a certain continuity which renders them more enjoyable to experience, & also offers accountings of important events viewed or perceived from multiple perspectives.

Upon his accepting leadership of what came to be known as the Second Crusade, Louis VII 'the Younger' quickly made common cause with the inflexible St. Bernard of Clairvaux, utilizing the ecclesiastic's skills as an orator to preach sermons at various locations throughout France in an effort to increase popular support for the crusade's inception. Norwich eloquently describes Bernard's character in the following passage, leaving very little to interpretation : "St. Bernard was now in his middle fifties, & far & away the most powerful spiritual force in Europe. To an objective observer of our own day, safely out of range of that astonishing personal magnetism with which he effortlessly dominated all those with whom he came into contact, he is not an attractive figure. Tall & haggard, his features clouded by the constant pain that resulted from a lifetime of fasting, he was consumed by a blazing religious zeal that left no room for tolerance or moderation." The Viscount Norwich's vivid, colorful descriptions of history's larger-than-life personalities are what set his books apart from the often-mundane texts which populate the genre, & his congenial wit & light sense of humor keep his narrative moving along at a pleasantly brisk pace that is simply a joy to read.

A short biography of the life & reign of Louis XI 'the Prudent' is Norwich's primary subject in Chapter 7, The Universal Spider : 1453 - 1483. Throughout his time in power Louis became famous for spinning webs of intrigue & political espionage, & his vast network of spies & informants became legendary throughout Europe, leading to his gaining the unique sobriquet, 'l'universelle aragne'. From a young age Louis possessed a willful personality, & he constantly clashed with his father, King Charles VII 'the Victorious', & as a youth of 17 he joined in a rebellion against the French crown known as the 'Praguerie', after which he was forced to take refuge with Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy. Louis had an immense distrust of the French nobility, preferring to surround himself with statesmen promoted from within the French middle class, the bourgeoisie, & he would even award commoners of obscure origins high-profile governmental positions due to the fact that he could be assured of their absolute loyalty. Norwich aptly sums up Louis' character in his usual magniloquent fashion : "With Louis XI it can safely be said that the age of chivalry was gone for ever. His character failed utterly to improve. He cared little for honor, breaking his word again & again, & fully expecting others to break theirs. Having been a consistently disobedient son, he expected his own children to behave in very much the same manner & never trusted them an inch." Despite these shortcomings Louis worked tirelessly to improve the state of the French monarchy & is widely considered as one of the hardest-working sovereigns in Late Middle Age France.

The later chapters cover a robust variety of topics which span historical periods ranging from Louis XIV's decadent, 72-year reign that later came to be symbolized by the legendary phrase he uttered on 13 April 1655, "L'état, c'est moi", tr. "The state, it is me", to Napoleon Bonaparte's unprecedented self-coronation as Emperor of the French at the hand of Pope Innocent VII on 2 December 1804. In Chapter 21, The Cross Of Lorraine : 1935 - 45, Norwich discusses the events leading up to the Second World War, including the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's unsuccessful attempts to appease the Axis powers & the fateful escape of 338,000 Allied troops across the English Channel from the French port of Dunkirk in 1940. For his final written work John Julius Norwich performed admirable work infusing the writing with his trademark perspicacity & thoughtful, introspective charm that seems to find its way to practically every corner of the book & pervades in his reader's mind long after they have put it down. Anyone who enjoys the episodic format in which A History Of France is composed would likely enjoy Norwich's, A History Of Venice, which originally was released in the UK in 2 separate volumes : The Rise To Empire & The Greatness & The Fall. For a more complete accounting of Julius Caesar's military operations in France, the Penguin Classics edition of S.A. Handford's translation of Caesar's The Conquest Of Gaul would be an excellent choice. Finally, for a well-written scholarly biography on Louis 'the Prudent', Paul Murray Kendall's Louis XI : The Universal Spider would most certainly satisfy any reader's curiosity to learn about that particular French king. I hope you enjoyed the review, thanks so much for reading!

[Susan in NC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable history of France. I admired the author’s deep knowledge, wit and humor, and his reason for stopping at the end of World War II. As he concisely and beautifully writes:

I am drawing this book to a close with the end of the Second World War because, once I find myself writing about facts I remember from my own life, I no longer feel that I am writing history. And so I leave the story here, at the last major milestone, with a sense above all of gratitude. The history of Franco-British relations has been, over the past twenty centuries, chequered to say the least; but in those centuries France has made a contribution to European culture greater than that of any other nation – and we have been, among many others, the blessed beneficiaries.

I chose to read this history because I read a historical mystery set in Paris as Napoleon was escaping from Alba, and I realized how little I knew of the historical references made by the French characters, and the background of the Bourbons returning to claim the throne of France.

As an American, I learned the French supported us in our Revolution against the British, and went on to have a bloody revolution of their own. I knew they had fought the British on and off for centuries, and there had been horrific wars of religion in Europe. I knew of Charlemagne, and Pepin the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Joan of Arc, and the autocratic Sun King Louis XIV. I did not know about brave Vercingetorix, who united the Galls to rebel (unsuccessfully, but still), against Julius Caesar’s Roman legions, or the many Frankish kings who struggled to unite France, and could barely venture safely beyond Paris. Or the great Renaissance king, Francis I, or Henry IV - I’d heard the quote “Paris is worth a Mass”, but didn’t know the background.

All of these fascinating figures, and so many more, are brought to life with wit, and humor, and a delightful, breezy, almost gossipy and conversational style by Norwich. Despite covering 2000 years of history, he kept my interest with fascinating anecdotes about the people he was discussing.

It helped that I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author - what a voice! And his love for the country that was his second home comes through; I was especially moved by the last bit about why he stopped after WWII, and his epilogue.

I confess I’ll still mix up my Louis and Napoleons, and find it hard to keep track of who felt they had a right to chunks of Italy or several other countries, but I really enjoyed the author’s style and passion for his subject. I’m glad I bought the ebook so I can refer back whenever I want to refresh my rather deplorable memory. I look forward to reading more of his books in my ongoing nonfiction personal reading challenge. As usual with my nonfiction reads, I copy and paste a lot into my reading progress, to give my GR friends who may see my review a taste of the author’s style, so they can see if they, too, might want to give the book a try.

[Brian Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastically entertaining read and the final book of Mr. Norwich. As he indicates, this is a popular, readable "short" narrative history of France, focusing on the monarchs and key figures. No long sections about the economy, and then when it is covered a few paragraphs about declining economics led to the French Revolution for instance. This is for those of us who only remember the Revolution, Napoleon, and WWI from World History, and want to know about monarchs, the major historical events with a Franco-centric focus, and the fun, interesting, and bizarre stories that impact that history. For instance, France has had more regal assassinations than American Presidential assassinations. Just a bizarre stretch where people could just walk up and stab the king to death for whatever reason. Fascinating. Highly recommended if you want precisely this type of history, which ends with De Gaulle and the liberation of Paris. Perfect starting point as well for deeper dives elsewhere, just as he states was the point.

[David Canford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good gallop through two thousand years of French history to the end of WW2 centred around its kings and political leaders. I enjoyed it but if you’re looking for something in depth this won’t be for you.

[Rafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este nos es el mejor libro Norwich, eso hay que reconocerlo. Quizás que sea el último libro que escribió también influye. Por otra parte, al tratarse de una historia general, he de reconocer que se aleja un poco de lo que busco actualmente en un libro de historia.

Dicho esto, la calidad de los textos de Norwich está muy por encima del nivel medio que exhiben algunos libros de historia actuales, es de esos escritores que no aburren. Si se busca una historia general y amena, a veces socarrona, y que nos sirva de trampolín para lecturas más profundas. Este es tu libro.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my kind of history book at all, being mostly a recounting of the exploits of kings and dukes, the important battles, that kind of thing. I am completely hopeless at names-and-dates history and will retain very little of what I heard, I think. I need a more holistic type of history, one that really gives me an idea of the people at the bottom (or even in the middle) of the social pyramid.

I enjoyed myself a bit more when Norwich slowed the pace as we arrived at the Revolution, but pretty soon we were picking up speed again, although the last part of the book was certainly more entertaining than the first three-quarters or so.

Perhaps the bits I enjoyed most were Norwich's own reminiscences of France and his obvious love for all things Gallic. And after The Norman Conquest it was such a relief to hear the French pronounced properly!

Indeed, this audiobook was narrated by the author, and from its (and his) dates it must have been narrated in the year before his death at the age of 88. There were definitely signs of an elderly narrator in the pops, clicks and whistles that could perhaps have been corrected by a good sound engineer; but, my goodness, to have the puff to read such a tome in your late 80s is pretty impressive, and I can't say I'm unhappy about the choice to have him do his own narration.

[Nikhil Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is no easy task to summarise all of a nation's history in a book fewer than five hundred pages. That being said, Norwich does a pretty good job. I got the impression that more emphasis was placed on the medieval period than on the ancient and modern ones - Which suits me fine, though I wish we knew more about Gaul before it became Francia. The reader gets a peek into English history while flipping through the pages too. I think of the books on French history as a whole available, this hits the mark.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook over the last couple of weeks because I'm moving to France next month and desperately want to win the "most studious / over-eager immigrant" award. I'd never read anything by John Julius Norwich before but fell a little bit in love listening to him describe two millennia of French history with humor, compassion, and a delightful British accent. Now if only learning the French language were so easy...

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me first emphasize how much I admire Norwich. He was a wonderful scholar. Although France was an enjoyable read, and I understand that the intended audience is non-academic, I was expecting a bit more in the way of content, as his "Short History of Byzantium" was far more comprehensive!

[diego ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) muy entretenido la verdad quizá se echa de menos que profundice un poco más en algunos temas pero es una buena manera de aprender sobre francia de manera ágil y no aburrida

[Eileen Iciek · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining run through 2 millenia of French history by one of my favorite writers. Norwich never fails to disappoint in his sparkling writing and voluminous knowledge of history. I knew bits and pieces of French history, but his retelling in a concise book really brought all the parts of it together.

The only negatives were a couple of mistakes. At one point he names the son of Henry VI as "Richard" when he was "Edward" - a small point since there were a lot of men with both names running around at the time and the boy never really did much before dying. The other was Norwich's laying the blame for syphilis at the feet of Christopher Columbus who supposedly brought it back from the Americas and the Native Americans. This reasoning has been around for a while but given that (from what I've read) American archaeologists have not found any Native American skeletons with the distinctive evidence of the disease, it is unlikely. In addition, recent archaeology has found skeletons in Anatolia buried in the 12th or 13th century that did have the damage distinctive of syphilis. It seems more likely to me that syphilis arrived either with the Seljuk Turks who were swarming over the Byzantine Empire at the time, or possibly from traders from other parts of Asia, or possibly even Africa. It is more a coincidence (rather than causation) that the disease began to cause serious problems in Europe at the same time as Columbus's explorations occurred.

[Supriyo Chaudhuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, kings and queens narrative of two thousand years of French history, which I much enjoyed. This book omits a lot - as one would expect in such a general book - but would be great read for anyone interested in France, if only for its numerous asides and notes laid out in almost Gibbonian style. There are lots of personages, lots of dates and lots of scandals, but it makes France understandable and mysterious, as any good history book should do.

[Heinz Reinhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad synopsis of French history, though for something so grand of a topic, Norwich clearly abbreviates the tale. He also leaves much undiscussed, to be expected in these types of histories, and sometimes his coverage is trite. His coverage of Medieval France is very brief, as his retelling of the tale of Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars. Even the Great War seems rushed through.
That said, still a useful, introductory, work on a very broad overview of one of the grandest civilizations on Earth.

[Sorin Hadârcă · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kings, queens, their lovers & an occasional battle. Reading history as a bouquet of spiced up anecdotes is not my cup of tea; the scale of the project, the meaning of events go missing. As well as philosophy, art, politics and economics, which is a shame, for these are the tissues of history not less important than the sayings of the crowned figures. In addition, 70% of the book is read like a footnote to Dumas. British optics provide a rather skewed image of what was going on. Sir John Julius Norwich is out of my reading lists.