'Authoritative, well-written, solidly thought through, this book, which has no equivalent in recent writing about French history, should reach out beyond the British Isles to the English-speaking world in its entirety.' Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie 'An awesome range of topics ... the book is a veritable tour de force.' French Cultural Studies 'Good one-volume histories of France are not all ... Read morethat common, and after this one they might well become less so. This is because it is hard to see how it might be bettered ... this book will be the obvious starting point for years to come for anglophones everywhere who want to know about the history of France.' French Studies Lavishly illustrated, filled with superb maps, this coffee-table survey of French history is a quality read....Jones captures in a lively style the historical vicissitudes, complexity, and diversity of France. Religious Studies Review Evenhanded, readable, with a finely calculated use of pictorial art. Philadelphia Inquirer Lavishly illustrated, with a striking use of photographs for the 20th century, this volume is an important work of synthesis as well as a handsome introduction to France and the French for the general reader....Scholars will also be impressed by Jones's ability to integrate the all-too-often fragmentary results of their specialized researches. Choice If only one title on France were to be chosen for a general library collection, it should be this....an involving, educational volume reaching high school ages and up. The Bookwatch Explores the diversity of the French heritage and offers insight into the formation of the modern nation in a lively history of France that combines magnificent illustration with exceptional scholarship and includes features on places, people and events. Book Alert Show Less