France and Its Empire Since 1870 - Softcover

Conklin, Alice L.; Fishman, Sarah; Zaretsky, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199384444 ISBN 13: 9780199384440

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2014

Synopsis

Providing an up-to-date synthesis of the history of an extraordinary nation--one that has been shrouded in myths, many of its own making--France and Its Empire Since 1870 seeks both to understand these myths and to uncover the complicated and often contradictory realities that underpin them. It situates modern French history in transnational and global contexts and also integrates the themes of imperialism and immigration into the traditional narrative.

Authors Alice L. Conklin, Sarah Fishman, and Robert Zaretsky begin with the premise that while France and the U.S. are sister republics, they also exhibit profound differences that are as compelling as their apparent similarities. The authors frame the book around the contested emergence of the French Republic--a form of government that finally appears to have a permanent status in France--but whose birth pangs were much more protracted than those of the American Republic. Presenting a lively and coherent narrative of the major developments in France's tumultuous history since 1870, the authors organize the chapters around the country's many turning points and confrontations. They also offer detailed analyses of politics, society, and culture, considering the diverse viewpoints of men and women from every background including the working class and the bourgeoisie, immigrants, Catholics, Jews and Muslims, Bretons and Algerians, rebellious youth, and gays and lesbians.

About this title

About the Author:

Alice L. Conklin is Professor of History at the Ohio State University.

Sarah Fishman is Professor of History and Associate Dean for undergraduate studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Houston.

Robert Zaretsky is Professor of French History at the University of Houston.

Review:

"The book is unique in the field with its coverage of both France and its empire, and in that regard is au courant with modern scholarship. It is well written, concise, and very competitively priced."--Julius R. Ruff, Marquette University

"The main strengths of France and Its Empire Since 1870 are its attention to gender, empire, and to cultural and intellectual developments, elements that are often missing or weak in other comparable books."--Katrin Schultheiss, George Washington University

"France and Its Empire Since 1870 is an excellent textbook that rightly embeds the well-known narrative of French history into broader imperial and global contexts. It is written with a lively turn of phrase that gives a powerful sense of the often tumultuous, fast-paced and exciting developments of French history."--Edward Baring, Drew University

"For a survey text, its detail and scope surpasses all competition. I particularly appreciate the emphasis on colonial issues and France as a major player on the international stage."--Michael V. Leggiere, University of North Texas

"The strengths of France and Its Empire Since 1870 lie in its clear prose and its integration of the empire into the basic framework of the narrative. It also integrates aspects of social, cultural, and gender history into what is often in other textbooks a very straightforward political narrative of the development of the French Republican ideology. The authors have surveyed and integrated the most current and relevant scholarship in the field, which makes the text relevant and engaging."--Darcie Fontaine, University of South Florida

"The breadth and scope of the book is admirable, clearly setting it apart from its competitors."--Stephen Auerbach, Georgia College

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0199384444
• ISBN 13: 9780199384440
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 480