History of France

«History of France» by Andre Maurois — is a grand saga in which the classics of 20th century French literature manage to combine historical accuracy with subtle psychology. The book covers a vast time span — from late Antiquity to the formation of the Fifth Republic in 1958, making it a valuable source for understanding the key stages in the development of the French state.
Andre Maurois, known primarily as the author of fictionalized biographies of Dumas, Balzac, and Hugo, in «History of France» reveals the fate of the country through the destinies of its outstanding figures: monarchs, generals, thinkers, and poets. The reader sees not just a list of dates and events, but a living portrait of «dear France», where brilliant victories coexist with tragic upheavals, court intrigues — with great ideas that influenced all of Europe and the world.
A special merit of the work is the author's ability to show how historical changes reflected on the worldview and actions of people, which connects the book with the works of such masters of the historical-biographical genre as Stefan Zweig, Maurice Druon, and Henri Troyat. «History of France» allows for a deeper study not only of the political and military history of the country but also of its cultural heritage, the evolution of social ideas, and France's role in world history.