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A History of France Paperback – October 4, 2019

by John Julius Norwich (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 491 ratings
Editors' pick Best History
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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, Norwich writes in an inviting, intimate tone, and with a palpable affection for France. One of our greatest contemporary historians has deftly crafted a comprehensive yet concise portrait of the country's historical sweep.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grove Press
  4. Publication date
    October 4, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.3 x 8.9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0802147771
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0802147776
  8. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. It was the partition at Verdun that created the modern countries of France and Germany, together with that territory between them, Alsace-Lorraine, that has bedevilled their relations ever since.
    Highlighted by 87 Kindle readers
  2. Pepin was by far the greatest European ruler of his time; it was, however, his misfortune to be overshadowed by one greater still – his son Charles, better known as Charlemagne, who came to the throne on Pepin’s death in 768.
    Highlighted by 84 Kindle readers
  3. On 3 June 1098 the Crusaders recovered Antioch; and finally, on Friday 15 July 1099, amid scenes of hideous carnage, the soldiers of Christ battered their way into Jerusalem, where they celebrated their victory by slaughtering all the Muslims in the city and burning all the Jews alive in the main synagogue.
    Highlighted by 83 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for A History of France

An Amazon Best Book of the Month

“[Norwich] remembered that there was a public composed of people who read books of history for pleasure, not from duty . . . [A History of France is] a delightful book―engaging, enthusiastic, sympathetic, funny and sometimes, one has to add, quirky.”―Wall Street Journal

“The major achievement of this book is the very fact that Norwich takes each of the four rulers to be a piece of the same story . . . written with often humming literary verve.”―New York Times Book Review

“With characteristic deftness of touch, Norwich brings each character vividly to life and skillfully weaves their stories together . . . a genuinely inspired idea for a book, and Norwich executes it with typical aplomb.”―Tracy Borman, BBC History Magazine

“Norwich’s long career as a historian has given him a definite assurance of style, which allows him to present historical detail in a thoroughly engaging manner without sacrificing clarity.”―Library Journal

“A streamlined, merry romp through glorious Gaul.”―Washington Independent Review of Books

“Norwich’s strength is the colorful anecdote . . . [and A History of France is] informative and entertaining.”―Publishers Weekly

About the Author

JOHN JULIUS NORWICH is the author of many books, including Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe; A History of Venice; Byzantium; and the New York Times bestseller Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press; Reprint edition (October 4, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802147771
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802147776
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.3 x 8.9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 491 ratings

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John Julius Norwich

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
491 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Edward M Roney
5.0 out of 5 stars A good history of France way beyond what you learn in school.
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2023
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Very detailed history of France. I was astonished to learn about the enormous number of wars after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the number of battles with huge numbers of deaths during the Middle ages and the incredible casualties in WWI. The horrors inflicted by the French people on each other during the French Revolution is difficult to read. I would like to understand why the French fought so bravely in WWI and not in WWII. I have read elsewhere that Socialism was taking hold and the people were not willing to work hard or take risks, that they were competing with Germany with a 35 hour workweek against Germany's 50 hours. Moreover Germans were charged up about the punishment inflicted on Germany by the Allies in the Versailles Treaty. Contrast this with the success after WWII with a policy of building up Germany and Japan's economy and including them in defense treaties like NATO. The Marshall Plan is an example.
4 people found this helpful
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4.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview but too focused on leaders
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2023
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After watching the PBS series on Marie Antionette I realized I didn't know much about the history of France and found this book for a great price. I think this is a well-written book and very readable. My only complaint is the focus is almost exclusively on the country's leaders whether they were kings, emperors or presidents. I'm now more prepared to read about Marie Antionette and Napoleon. It's also a bit unfortunate that the book stops after World War II, but that's explained in the introduction. I'd suggest reading this book if you're interested in a solid overview.
3 people found this helpful
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Marcos Ortega
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely entertaining but uneven content
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2020
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As a Spaniard having resided 16 years in France before moving to the US and having studied History at the University of Grenoble, I really enjoyed this book from cover to cover: it endeavors to cover more than 2,000 years of French history, from the Gauls to De Gaulle. The author displays a great sense of humor and has a knack for anecdotal history. What kept me from rating it 5 stars was its uneven treatment of some of the historical periods it covers: only a few pages are consecrated to Napoleón, who is arguably one of the most influential characters in modern French History (one can see the British phobia for Boney), while whole chapters are consecrated to the Hundred Years’ War (a chapter of History that encompasses both France and England and in which the author seems more interested in describing what was going on in England). Definitely worth a read if you are looking to learn about French history while being entertained or if you need a refresher.
7 people found this helpful
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Samuel Schiller
5.0 out of 5 stars It's complicated, but concise!
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2020
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I have long been a Francophile, but I had never actually studied French History as a whole. This book was just the ticket for explaining the basics from Roman times through the end of WWII. It is a fascinating read but it does get complicated with all the various Kings and important personalities that the author weaves into the narrative. He delivers that narrative with a degree of clever wit and makes the necessary detail interesting. This work is but a brush stroke in the more inticate painting of French History, yet it forms a foundation for the reader to seek out more detailed offerings on different periods. Don't expect an in depth foray into French politics, culture, or iconic figures. Still, it is just what I wanted, is entirely adequate for its purpose and I highly reccommend it for anyone who seeks a basic knowledge of France and the French.
6 people found this helpful
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J. Rodeck
3.0 out of 5 stars You can't cover 20 centuries of French history in a single volume.
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
The bottom line is that you can't cover 20 centuries of French history in a single volume. Most of the early history is boring with shifting borders and one invasion after another.

Only a few of the main figures get their due: Louis IV, Napoleon, and DeGaulle. Some famous figures are passed over. Lucrezia Borjia, the Alexis Carrington of France, is named once, just as the wife of so-and-so. Joan of Arc gets only a few lines.

The French Revolution is well-covered. The author doesn't spare the sanguinary details as he describes a woman burned at the stake, after which they eat her heart.

We do find out that Marie Antoinette never said, "Let Them eat cake.

The tone is one of a droning professor talking into a mike. For some of the many French phrases and quotations you can find translations in end of chapter footnotes. My impression is that he rambles through the historical period and takes care of qualifications, etc, later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SAMPLE:

"He was only five and a half feet tall, and far from good-looking; for sheer charisma, on the other hand, he was unequalled; and to this he added two other vital requirements for greatness, boundless energy and invincible self-confidence. No one in history – not even the dictators of the twentieth century – enjoyed such a reputation. There are old people living still today – the author is one of them – who can still remember being warned as a child: ‘If you don’t behave, Boney will come and get you!’ The Duke of Wellington said that his presence on the battlefield was worth 40,000 soldiers."

"Finally, has any single man had a greater long-term impact on Europe? In France, faced with the chaos and confusion caused by the Revolution and the Terror, he quickly restored peace, political equilibrium and a strong economy; he established religious freedom, while the concordat, which he signed with Pope Pius VII in 1801, restored good relations between Church and state. He maintained low prices for the basic foods; and he created the Code Napoléon of 1804, which remains the basis of French civil law and that of nearly thirty other countries as well. In Europe, he left a trail of pillage and destruction; but he also spread the revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity the length and breadth of the continent, where such concepts were new and challenging indeed."
25 people found this helpful
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Brenda Gates
5.0 out of 5 stars Humor and history
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2023
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I bought this book to learn a bit about French history before traveling there. It is delightfully written with a story teller's flare and great humor thrown in to keep things lively. Easy to read, unlike many history texts.
4 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2023
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A history book about France. Pictures at the back. I am of french descent. It was a thorough look back. I likec it!
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2023
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A fast read, informative, casual, opinionated, which heroically tries to sort out the various ancient bloodlines of French aristocracy for us readers. I tried to understand but was still lost. This is a remarkably short history spanning some 2,000 years, and doing it well. Highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Paul G
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro, una lectura muy enriquecedora
Reviewed in Mexico on October 27, 2021
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Abordar toda la historia tan rica y tan basta de un país como Francia no es tarea sencilla, y menos hacer una redacción entretenida y amena, pero, John Julius Norwich cumple con ese objetivo, no obstante he de decir que existe sumarización y por justa razón de compilar tan largos periodos de tiempo algunas temas se obvian o sea pasan por alto, es por eso que advierto que si se va a leer este libro se tengan conocimientos previos en el tema, es decir, es un libro no del todo introductorio si se tienen conocimientos nulos de la historia de Europa y en específico de Francia.
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BillBC
2.0 out of 5 stars Not really a history of France
Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is a good read, but it's not a history of France. The first half is a history of the French monarchy up to the revolution. It says nothing about the country or its people, at least anyone below the rank of duke or archbishop. The rest of the book is more like a personal reminiscence. If you want to know how many mistresses and illegitimate children the country's rulers had though, this is the book for you...
One person found this helpful
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