Illustrated History of Modern France
by Brian Moynahan
First English Language Edition –
published in Britain in 2007
Sixteen chapters cover the history of France from the end of
the 19th century to the present day, encapsulating everything from political
events and scientific discoveries to cultural achievements and sporting
triumphs. The five presidents of France’s fifth republic–Charles de Gaulle,
Georges Pompidou, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, François Mitterand, and Jacques
Chirac–have led the country through tremendous change in all sectors, and their
respective reigns are covered in detail. The Dreyfus Affair, the May 1968
student protests, the onset of a socialist government in 1981, and two world
wars are but a few French landmarks that have changed the face of Europe and
the world. French culture flourished in the 20th century. Colette, Proust,
Emile Zola, and Jules Verne wrote classics in literature while Picasso, Rodin,
the Dadaists, and the Surrealists redefined art. Haussmann’s urban plan and I.
M. Pei’s pyramid set new standards in architecture. Sarah Bernhard and
Josephine Baker revolutionized the performing arts while Camille Saint-Saëns,
Claude Debussy, Pablo Casals, and Maurice Ravel set the era to music. The Tour
de France, Lacoste tennis, and World Cup soccer energized the sports scene.
Innovations in science came from Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, and Henry
Bequerel. This book includes two hundred and photographs of the main events and
key personalities of the century.