De Gaulle

By: Julian Jackson

Narrated by: James Adams

"The finest one-volume life of de Gaulle in English." (Richard Norton Smith, The Wall Street Journal)

In a definitive biography of the mythic general who refused to accept Nazi domination of France, Julian Jackson captures this titanic figure as never before. Drawing on unpublished letters, memoirs, and resources of the recently opened de Gaulle archive, he reveals how this volatile visionary put a broken France back at the center of world affairs.

©2018 Julian Jackson (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

A very important history of Degaulle

I confess rhat I knew little of DeGaulle before listening to Jacksom' history. Degaulle remains a complex man of the 19th century who left an indelible imprint on modern France. He is, above all, a portrait of France in the 20th century.

Excellent Source of History

Jackson’s biography provided an unbiased well-documented account of this enigmatic force in 20th Century history.

De Gaulle , Political Life

This is not a biography so much as an examination of De Gaulle's political life and goals. The details of his actions and exertions for France are recounted in detail, from the minor to the momentous. I admit that a lot of the political intrigues and maneuvering seem moot but I suppose may be of interest to someone very interested in what I regard as minutiae.

A Masterly Study

This is a long book at 928 pages or 41 hours and 35 minutes in audiobook format. Julian Jackson covers De Gaulle from childhood to death. The book is well written and meticulously researched. I have read a lot of books about World War I, but I do not recall any author mentioning the role De Gaulle played in the Great War. Jackson covers in detail De Gaulle’s role as a lieutenant in the WWI.

Jackson appears to have done a good job in writing an unbiased biography of De Gaulle. The author covers in-depth De Gaulle’s role in World War II. I must admit that when I started reading this book most of my knowledge about De Gaulle was based on my readings by Churchill and Eisenhower. It was good to obtain an unbiased viewpoint of De Gaulle. I learned about his role in WWII and as president of France. I still do not have a high opinion of him. One of his comments I cannot seem to get out of my mind is as follows: “It is not the role of government to obtain proposals or seek consensus but to give orders”. That statement seems to really bother me. I also noted he tried to do away with political parties but was unsuccessful.

I enjoyed the book and learning about De Gaulle and also about the civil war with Algeria that De Gaulle triggered. If you are interested in De Gaulle or French history, you should give the book a try.

Julian Jackson is a British historian. James Adams does a good job narrating the book. I enjoyed his British accent. Adams is a British audiobook narrator who now lives in the United States.

The characteristics of a great and charismatic leader

DeGaulle’s struggle to make France a power even under the heel of Germany after the invasion of France in World War II is a story studded with anecdotes, passionate arguments, tactics of war and elements of great character, without which France would not have achieved what it did after World War II. The reader was exceptional.