Modern France

A new history of the war that toppled the French Empire, unified Germany, and set Europe on the path to World War I Among the conflicts that convulsed Europe during the nineteenth century, none was more startling and consequential than the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. Deliberately...

The twentieth century is usually seen as "the century of total war." But as the historian David A. Bell argues in this landmark work, the phenomenon actually began much earlier, in the era of muskets, cannons, and sailing ships—in the age of Napoleon. In a sweeping, evocative narrative, Bell takes us from campaigns of "extermination" in the blood-soaked fields of western France to savage street fighting in ruined Spanish cities to central European battlefields where tens of thousands died in a single day. Between 1792 and 1815, Europe plunged into an abyss of destruction.

The eighteenth century was a time of cultural friction: individuals began to assert greater independence and there was a new emphasis on social equality. In this surprising history, Lynn Hunt examines women's expanding societal roles, such as using tea to facilitate conversation between the sexes in Britain. In France, women also pushed boundaries by becoming artists, and printmakers' satiric takes on the elite gave the lower classes a chance to laugh at the upper classes and imagine the potential of political upheaval.

Traditionally known as a dirty, congested, and dangerous city, 19th Century Paris was transformed in an extraordinary period from 1848 to 1870, when the government launched a huge campaign to build streets, squares, parks, churches, and public buildings. The Louvre Palace was expanded, Notre-Dame Cathedral was restored and the French masterpiece of the Second Empire, the Opra Garnier, was built.

This modern adaptation of The Three Musketeers preserves Alexandre Dumas’s plot, pace, and spirit while smoothing archaic phrasing for today’s readers. With clean, contemporary typography and lightly clarified language, you can dive straight into the daring exploits of d’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—no footwork needed to decipher old-fashioned turns of speech. Set in the glittering, perilous court of 17th-century France, this edition delivers everything readers love about the original: razor-sharp duels, secret plots, and unshakable friendship. Honor is tested, loyalties ...

Today, it is difficult to imagine a living room without a sofa. When the first sofas on record were delivered in 17th-century France, the result was a radical reinvention of interior space. Symptomatic of a new age of casualness and comfort, the sofa ushered in an era known as the golden age of conversation; as the first piece of furniture designed for two, it was also considered an invitation to seduction. With the sofa came many other changes in interior space we now take for granted: private bedrooms, bathrooms, and the original living rooms.

The Fifth Republic of France is one of the most dramatic political experiments in modern history—and it’s still unfolding today. Born in 1958 from crisis and fear of collapse, Charles de Gaulle’s “Fifth Republic” has survived student uprisings, terrorist attacks, corruption scandals, populist revolts, and the fury of millions marching in the streets. Against all odds, it has outlived every French regime since the Revolution of 1789. In this gripping, cinematic history, The Fifth Republic: France’s Unfinished Revolution takes readers inside the battles that shaped modern France: ...

Experience Victor Hugo's epic tale in a refreshed edition designed for today's readers. This adaptation of Les Misérables presents clean, modern formatting, contemporary typography, and gently clarified language that keeps Hugo's voice and power intact. Archaic phrasing is smoothed, long sentences are made more approachable, and footnote clutter is minimized—so you can follow the story with ease while still savoring the grandeur, moral intensity, and lyrical beauty of the original masterpiece. Set against the turmoil of 19th-century France, Les Misérables explores justice, grace, love, ...

We live in an age of unprecedented prosperity, yet everywhere we see signs that our pursuit of happiness has proven fruitless. Dissatisfied, we seek change for the sake of change - even if it means undermining the foundations of our common life. In Why We Are Restless, Benjamin and Jenna Storey offer a profound and beautiful reflection on the roots of this malaise and examine how we might begin to cure ourselves.

This famous treatise began as a letter to a young French friend who asked Edmund Burke’s opinion on whether France’s new ruling class would succeed in creating a better order. Doubtless the friend expected a favorable reply, but Burke was suspicious of certain tendencies of the Revolution from the start and perceived that the revolutionaries were actually subverting the true "social order". Blending history with principle and graceful imagery with profound practical maxims, this book is one of the most influential political treatises in the history of the world.

In an Arizona desert a man wanders in a daze, speaking words that make no sense. Within twenty-four hours he is dead, his body swiftly cremated by his only known associates. Halfway around the world archaeologists make a shocking discovery at a medieval site. Suddenly they are swept off to the...

The bestselling author of Catherine de Medici returns to sixteenth-century Europe in this evocative and entertaining biography that recreates a remarkable era of French history and brings to life a great monarch—Francis I—who turned France into a great nation. Catherine de Medici’s...

It is an era that redefined history. As the 1790s began, a fragile America teetered on the brink of oblivion, Russia towered as a vast imperial power, and France plunged into revolution. But in contrast to the way conventional histories tell it, none of these remarkable events occurred in...

Embark on a journey through time with this remarkable 4-in-1 bundle, carefully curated to offer you an in-depth look at the history of France from ancient Gaul to the modern era. Immerse yourself in the tales of powerful kings and queens, the birth of a nation, and the incredible transformations that have made France the country it is today.

François Hollande: The Reluctant Hero By Julien Peltier He was the “normal president” in extraordinary times. François Hollande rose to power promising calm, compromise, and stability. Instead, he found himself tested by terror attacks, economic stagnation, and a nation divided by doubt. From the flicker of unity in the aftermath of tragedy to the crushing weight of disillusion, Julien Peltier paints a vivid portrait of a leader caught between duty and destiny. With rare intimacy and sharp irony, this biography reveals the man behind the hesitant smile: modest yet ambitious, ironic ...

How a Modern Democracy Slowly Turns Into a Narco-State A nation in denial. A system collapsing from within. The true story no one else dares to tell. Cocaine in the ports. Weapons in the suburbs. Money in the banks. Silence in the Republic. This is not fiction. This is the slow drift of a Western democracy toward the unthinkable: a narco-state in the heart of Europe. Investigative in tone but paced like a thriller, NarcoFrance exposes how organized crime has quietly embedded itself inside France’s institutions — from local municipalities to national politics, from housing estates to ...

Beginning with the Roman army's first recorded encounter with the Gauls and ending in the era of Emmanuel Macron, France takes listeners on an endlessly entertaining journey through French history. Robb conveys with wit and precision what it felt like to look over the shoulder of a young Louis XIV as he planned the vast garden of Versailles, and the dangerous thrill of having a seat at the French revolution. Some of the protagonists may be familiar, but appear here in a very different light—Caesar, Charlemagne, Louis XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte, General Charles de Gaulle.

Bebop & Bouillabaisse is a survey of modern jazz in France between the years 1947 and 1975. Its main section is an A-Z of 50 musicians from France, Belgium and America who helped to establish and develop the music in the country. Key recordings are assessed and the principal aim is to argue for the music’s significance and pleasure-giving potential in the current age. There is also a brief history of modern jazz in France and a section discussing recordings made prior to the LP age. It concludes with a list of 39 essential albums. Bebop & Bouillabaisse is written in an accessible style ...

A top historian offers a new history of Paris’s Belle Époque, the luminous age of the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, but also of social unrest and violent clashes over what it meant to be French From the wrought ironwork of the Eiffel Tower to the flourishing art nouveau movement...

Step into the enchanting world of French pâtisserie—the delicate, colorful, and utterly irresistible art of pastry that has captivated the world for centuries. From the royal kitchens of Versailles to the bustling cafés of Paris, The Art of French Pâtisserie takes you on a journey through history, culture, and innovation. Discover how legendary chefs like Antonin Carême and Auguste Escoffier transformed desserts into masterpieces, how Sunday family rituals made pastry part of everyday life, and how French techniques continue to inspire chefs around the globe. Filled with fascinating ...