D. W. Brogan (1900–1974)

This is an impressive study of French politics starting with the humiliating defeat at the hands of the Prussians in 1870 and ending with the confused slide into the World War2. Brogan wrote the book in 1939 with a closeness to events that gives a freshness without post WW2 hindsight.

It's a detailed account of the way in which the Republic was tested by the forces of the right, emerged victorious, adopted socialism and again emerged victorious in the politicised Dreyfus case . It was only in the darkest days of WW1 that socialist defeatism opened the way for the nationalist Clemenceau to revive the army sufficiently to achieve victory in 1918.

As Brogan says, "The traditional ingratitude of republics was displayed: and it was again made evident that the French politician did not want to see too great a man, too strong a personality at the head of State. In addition to this general bar, few politicians had more enemies than Clemenceau." He resigned and the inter-war years saw the growing power of socialist government which only managed to confronted Hitler with Blum's anti-war rhetoric and prepared the ground for defeat.

This review does not do justice to Brogan's depth of knowledge of pre WW2 France.… (more)

1956 France Under the Republic:The Development of Modern France (1870-1939), by D. W. Brogan (read 15 Nov 1985) (Book of the Year) This 1940 book is an interesting and intriguing account of France from 1970 to 1939. I do not think I have read a better book this year: it just held my interest throughout. The account of the Dreyfus affair was excellent, as was the account of the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War, and all the things taken up. I was surprised how serious Fashoda actually was: I always thought it was just some fly-by-night expedition, but apparently it was carefully planned by France. This was an excellent, excellent book which I am glad I read, even though it has no bibliography and is short on scholarly apparatus. Brogan was a poli sci prof at Cambridge U. [At year's end, this was chosen as the best book I read in 1985.]… (more)