THE HISTORY OF MODERN FRANCE

Jonathan Fenby

Simon and Schuster, 544 pages, Rs.899

France lived through two tumultuous centuries following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo, in June 1815. Fenby conducts an expert and riveting journey through this period, covering the end of the First Revolution and then two others, the return of Empire, three catastrophic wars with Germany and, more recently, France’s struggle to become the leader of the European Union. Along the way, he reflects on social changes and cultural landmarks, and on fundamental questions of what this nation, which considers itself exceptional, really stood—and stands—for.