Mission to Civilize: The French Way

Rosenblum, Mort

ISBN 10: 0151605807 / ISBN 13: 9780151605804

Published by Harcourt Barce Jovanovich, San Diege, 1986

About this Item

x, 470 p. Endpaper map. Notes. Bibliography. Index. A uniquely interesting look at both the country France and the way its people see the world. This is a veritable landscape of the French mentality. The author reaches back to the days of the Gauls and also provides sweeping commentary on France's role in modern events, such as the action against the Rainbow Warrior vessel, the overflight of Libya, and the CHernoble disaster. This is a book about the French at their best and at their worst. It is a loving portrait with all the warts, a book written, when all is said and done, the French way--with great conviction and flair. The author was a senior foreign correspondent for the Associated Press, and had been the Paris bureau chief for that organization. He was also the editor-in-chief of the International Hearld Tribune. His reporting had been repeatedly nominated for the Pulitizer Prize. Very good in good dust jacket. DJ has some wear, soiling, edge tears and chips. Black mark on bottom edge. First edition. First edition stated. First printing stated.

Seller Inventory # 64476

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mission to Civilize: The French Way
• Publisher: Harcourt Barce Jovanovich, San Diege
• Publication Date: 1986
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0151605807
• ISBN 13: 9780151605804
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • Racism

About this title

Synopsis

Characterizes the French way of seeing the world and probes the effects of France's age-old ability to fashion itself as a civilizing force

Reviews

This book provides a well-informed and highly readable account of the French empire over the centuries. In an era when most other empires have collapsed, the French have succeeded in maintaining much of the reality of their empire even though formal sovereignty has passed to the hands of local governments. Privileged economic, political, and military ties with former colonies are reinforced by lingering cultural ties in former French possessions that received independence decades or even centuries ago. Rosenblum, an American journalist in Paris, shows how the French emphasis on civilizing rather than colonizing has made France a cultural superpower. There is pretense and hypocrisy in this continuing empire, but also desirable self-esteem and pride in France's mission civilisatrice . Frank L. Wilson, Political Science Dept., Purdue Univ., W. Lafayette, Ind.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.