
In a tour de force, Colin Jones gives a gripping, superbly & intelligently illustrated account of the political, social & cultural history of France, placing an innovatory emphasis on the impact of regionalism, class, gender & race in French heritage. Ranging from prehistoric menhirs to the Pompidou Centre, from Louis XIV's Versailles to twentieth-century highrises, from Marie Antoinette to Marie Claire, The Cambridge Illustrated History of France is host to lively & penetrating new insights that take us through the shaping of France from the earliest times to the brink of a new millennium. Combining superb illustration with outstanding scholarship, the diversity of the French heritage--scientific & artistic, national & regional--is explored with an engrossing & accessible style. Special features on places, people & events, a glossary, & a further reading section enhance this engaging book that will appeal to history buffs & students of French history & culture. Colin Jones is also the author of the Longman Companion to the French Revolution & The Cultural Atlas of France.