Reader’s Reviews > A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle > Status Update
Reader
is on page 480 of 887
The May 1958 crisis (French: Crise de mai 1958), also known as the Algiers putsch or the coup of 13 May, was a political crisis in France during the turmoil of the Algerian War (1954–1962). Many saw in de Gaulle, who had not held office since 1946, the only public figure capable of rallying the nation and giving direction to the French government in the Fifth Republic.
— May 28, 2026 01:27PM
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Reader
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"When Malraux asked him which historical
character he would compare himself to – Joan of Arc, Napoleon, Louis XIV?
– de Gaulle replied: ‘My only rival is Tintin!
We are the small who refuse to allow ourselves to be cheated by the big.
Only, no one notices the similarity because of my size.’"
— Jun 19, 2026 01:00PM
character he would compare himself to – Joan of Arc, Napoleon, Louis XIV?
– de Gaulle replied: ‘My only rival is Tintin!
We are the small who refuse to allow ourselves to be cheated by the big.
Only, no one notices the similarity because of my size.’"
Reader
is on page 700 of 887
I did not realise how much De Gaule "ruffled many feathers" internationally 1966-1967. He threatened to leave NATO, created an"issue" but announcing in 1967 at the World Fair in Quebec "Vive Le Quebec libre"! De Gaulle still vetoed UK's 2nd attempt to enter European Common Market. Even his advisors were whispering that De Gaulle is "cinglë"....off his rocker!
— Jun 19, 2026 07:45AM
Reader
is on page 621 of 887
Charles de Gaulle and Jacques Foccart:
In Africa "...everything had to change so that everything would remain the same."
— Jun 18, 2026 12:39PM
In Africa "...everything had to change so that everything would remain the same."
Reader
is on page 601 of 887
Book is excellent and I've learned more about history/diplomacy in the years 1960s-1968s France, UK, Germany and USA:
bitter history b/t UK and France W II still solders -- UK is desperate to enter European Common Market...De Gaulle is implacable, NO! Nuclear weapons...who has them? who wants them?
— Jun 17, 2026 08:44AM
bitter history b/t UK and France W II still solders -- UK is desperate to enter European Common Market...De Gaulle is implacable, NO! Nuclear weapons...who has them? who wants them?
Reader
is on page 560 of 887
The Algerian Crisis + Independence in a nutshell pg 480-560.
— May 30, 2026 08:48AM
Reader
is on page 365 of 887
Churchill vs De Gaulle (25.05.2026) - De Gaulle was tense and wary, Churchill warm on the surface but apprehensive underneath.
Churchill vs De Gaulle (25.05.2026) - Churchill sent for Morton to order him to send de Gaulle forcibly back to Algiers – ‘in chains if necessary’. Harvey commented: ‘PM is almost insane at times in his hatred of de Gaulle,
— May 25, 2026 02:12PM
Churchill vs De Gaulle (25.05.2026) - Churchill sent for Morton to order him to send de Gaulle forcibly back to Algiers – ‘in chains if necessary’. Harvey commented: ‘PM is almost insane at times in his hatred of de Gaulle,
Reader
is on page 350 of 887
Churchill: ‘I am no more enamoured than you (Roosevelt) of de Gaulle but I would rather have him on the Committee than strutting about as a combination of Joan of Arc and Clemenceau.”
Churchill vs De Gaulle: “…felt that there had been a ‘good atmosphere’. Good atmosphere’ meant that the two men had not actually screamed at each other.
Trivia: Do you know where the decision for D-Day was taken? Tehran, Iran!
— May 24, 2026 02:55PM
Churchill vs De Gaulle: “…felt that there had been a ‘good atmosphere’. Good atmosphere’ meant that the two men had not actually screamed at each other.
Trivia: Do you know where the decision for D-Day was taken? Tehran, Iran!
Reader
is on page 250 of 887
October 1942 De Gaulle and Churchill have a HUGE argument...De Gaulle returned from a Middle East tour. Churchill was livid that De Gaulle used the trip to whip up anti-British sentiments!
— May 20, 2026 03:22PM
Reader
is on page 200 of 887
Well, after reading part 1….De Gaulle was quite a character! He had no oratory or diplomatic skills. It was his way….or the highway!
— May 18, 2026 01:41PM
