French Political Biographies

Emmanuel Macron: Jupiter in the Republic by Julien Peltier Can a president rule like a god — and still remain human? From his meteoric rise in 2017 to his stormy re-election in 2022, Emmanuel Macron has transformed French politics and polarized a nation. Branded “Jupiter” for his lofty style of governing, Macron shattered the traditional party system, survived the fury of the Yellow Vests, confronted a global pandemic, and stood firm against Russia’s war in Ukraine — all while facing relentless criticism at home. In this gripping and unflinching biography, Julien Peltier pulls ...

François Mitterrand: The Sphinx of the Fifth Republic By Julien Peltier He was the longest-serving president in French history — a man of paradoxes, secrets, and unshakable composure. François Mitterrand came to power in 1981 with a Socialist programme that promised transformation. By the end of his fourteen years at the Élysée, he had reshaped France, bound it more tightly to Europe, and left behind a legacy both celebrated and contested. Julien Peltier takes us inside the shifting worlds of Mitterrand’s presidency: the exhilaration of early reforms, the sharp turn to austerity, ...

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 ...

Dive into the riveting life of Nicolas Sarkozy, one of France’s most dynamic and polarizing leaders. From his early political ambitions to his meteoric rise as President of France, this biography reveals the man behind the headlines: his triumphs, scandals, and the lasting impact he left on French politics. Whether you’re a student of history, a political enthusiast, or curious about modern French leadership, this biography delivers insight, drama, and analysis in one compelling read.

Few images more shocked the French population during the Occupation than the photograph of Marshal Philippe Pétain - the great French hero of the First World War - shaking the hand of Hitler on 20 October 1940. In the radio speech after this meeting, Pétain said 'It is I alone who will be judged by History.' Five years later, in July 1945, the hour of judegment - if not yet the judgement of History - arrived.

Jacques Chirac: The Survivor of the Republic By Julien Peltier He was the eternal candidate, the man who always came close — until he didn’t just win, but stayed. From the rain-soaked steps of the Élysée in 1995 to his defiant stand against the Iraq War, from the shock of 2002’s face-off with the far right to the long twilight of his presidency, Jacques Chirac’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and quiet charm that outlasted his political power. Julien Peltier’s vivid, non-linear portrait takes the reader inside the private moments and public battles of a man who ...

Georges Pompidou: The President of Modern France In the shadow of Charles de Gaulle, Georges Pompidou rose from rural obscurity and the discreet boardrooms of Parisian finance to become the man charged with steering France into the modern age. Banker, intellectual, art patron, and reluctant politician, Pompidou’s presidency (1969–1974) was a bridge between the grandeur of Gaullism and the turbulence of the late twentieth century. Julien Peltier takes readers deep into the paradox of Pompidou — the cultivated former teacher who loved Mallarmé as much as motorways, the pragmatic ...

Jean-Paul Marat (1743-1793) gave the French Revolution a voice. One of the most memorable and notorious revolutionaries, Marat became one of the Revolution's best-known figures through his speeches, writings, and scathing attacks on everyone he perceived as, "[E]nemies of the revolution". No revolutionary was more passionate, determined, and willing to die for the cause.

Karl Marx (1818-1883) - philosopher, historian, sociologist, economist, current affairs journalist, and editor - was one of the most influential and revolutionary thinkers of modern history, but he is rarely thought of as a Jewish thinker, and his Jewish background is either overlooked or misrepresented. Avineri puts Marx's Jewish background in its proper and balanced perspective, and traces Marx's intellectual development in light of the historical, intellectual, and political contexts in which he lived.

In many ways it is fitting that Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794) is one of the best known figures of the French Revolution. The early years of the Revolution were fueled by Enlightenment ideals, seeking the social overthrow of the caste system that gave the royalty and aristocracy decisive advantages over the lower classes. Few were as vocal in their support of Enlightenment ideals as Robespierre. But the Reign of Terror became the most memorable aspect of the Revolution, and Robespierre's position made him the Reign of Terror's instrumental figure.

Après neuf années passées à la tête du Conseil constitutionnel, Jean-Louis Debré renoue avec la liberté de ton qu'on lui connaît. Jamais on n'a autant parlé de cette institution ni mieux compris son utilité que sous sa présidence. Dans ce livre audio, il évoque les dossiers qu'il a eu à traiter, les combats qu'il a menés, les dirigeants politiques qu'il a côtoyés et souvent affrontés.

En 1960, René Lévesque fait le saut en politique avec l’« équipe du tonnerre » de Jean Lesage. Ministre des Ressources naturelles, l’ancien journaliste pilote le projet de nationalisation de l’électricité. Sa conviction profonde que le Québec doit être maître de son destin l’incite à fonder le Mouvement souveraineté-association, puis le Parti québécois.

C'est l'histoire d'un homme fraîchement retraité qui ne pouvait tout simplement pas rester les bras croisés pendant que les supporters du convoi prenaient le contrôle du Parti conservateur du Canada.

Marc-Boris St-Maurice est le fondateur du Bloc Pot, du Parti marijuana et du Centre compassion, un dispensaire de marijuana médicale. Retraçant le parcours de la lutte des vingt dernières années pour la légalisation de la marijuana, le récit de la vie de ce militant sans regret s’impose comme le révélateur d’importants changements sociaux.

Originaire de Champagne, en France, Paul de Chomedey sieur de Maisonneuve s’initie très tôt à l’art militaire. Mais cela ne le satisfait pas : il rêve de voyages et d’aventures. Nommé gouverneur de Ville-Marie, il fonde la bourgade avec une quarantaine de colons prêts à relever le défi. L’homme d’honneur et de parole tentera toute sa vie de surmonter les nombreux obstacles qui se dresseront sur son chemin pour assurer le bien-être et la postérité de Ville-Marie. Aujourd’hui, Paul de Chomedey sieur de Maisonneuve est reconnu comme un cofondateur de Montréal.

Découvrez la vie du Général de Gaulle en 10 dates clefs, illustrées par des discours et des récits.

Faites découvrir Napoléon aux enfants grâce à 10 tableaux qui retracent les temps forts de la vie de l'Empereur.

Vous allez découvrir l'Histoire de France, de la Révolution à l'Empire, en suivant Napoléon, ce personnage de légende, devenu Empereur des français à 35 ans. C'est avec enthousiasme que Philippe Dormoy nous raconte la destinée incroyable de Napoléon Bonaparte, en répondant aux questions de Nathan, 9 ans.