A Brief History of France

Brief Histories

De: Cecil Jenkins

Narrado por: Tristan Bernays

When we think of France we often evoke images of fine food and wine, the elegant boulevards of Paris, the chic beaches of St Tropez. Yet, as the largest country in Europe, it is a place of huge diversity. The idea of 'Frenchness' emerged from over 2,000 years of history and it is a riveting story from Roman conquest to the present day.

Cecil Jenkins tells the story of the formation of this nation through its people, great events and culture. Through this narrative he charts why the French began to see themselves as so different from the rest of Europe and why, today, they face the same problems of identity as many other nations.

©2011 Cecil Jenkins (P)2014 Audible Ltd

A fantastic read!

Absolutely fantastic crash course in French culture and history from Roman times through the present. Excellent and easy to follow narration of what could otherwise be a dense read, full of interesting and relevant content.

Great overview of the history

Particularly enjoyed the entertaining reader. Great overview of history economy an culture of France. Will look for mor

good narrative

The narrative is shifted heavily towards the description of post De Gaulle presidencies while ancient and mideval histories are breezed through at a speed. Nevertheless it is a review well written and well performed.

Surprised and delighted

In listening to the brief extract introducing this book, I thought it might be shallow or un-rigorous. Nothing could be further from the truth. As an ‘Anglo-Saxon’-type, I was surprised and delighted by the author’s fair treatment of French history and culture. And by everything I learned. 100% recommend.

very uk centred.

the book puts the british and the british empire as the only reference and foe.

Would not recommend

This book suffers the typical failings of histories. It speeds past the first two thousand years so fast you can barely pick up anything, then slows to painful sloth for the 20th century to the extent that it becomes mind numbing. There is way too much name dropping of kings and politicians that muddies your ability to comprehend the a actual events.