Description
Description
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.
About the Author
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.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
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
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
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