A definitive study of the unique and endlessly fascinating relationship between France and Britain -- and its effects on the world.
The relationship between Britain and France is one of the catalysts of world history. Their geographical proximity, combined with their intellectual and economic dynamism, placed them both at the forefront of continental developments and overseas expansion from the eighteenth century onwards. Their insatiable rivalry set the pattern of European imperialism, and hence did much to shape the future of the planet. The interaction between them -- both peaceful and...

This is a comprehensive single-volume history of France, from Napoleon to World War I. Each period is subjected to close scrutiny and there is also close examination of social identities, from the individual and the family, to the nation as a whole.