A Certain Idea of France
The Life of Charles de Gaulle
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A Certain Idea of France
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Narrated by:
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John Banks
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By:
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Julian Jackson
About this listen
Penguin presents the audiobook edition of A Certain Idea of France by Julian Jackson, read by John Banks.
In six weeks in 1940, France was overrun by German troops and surrendered. One junior French general, refusing to accept defeat, made his way to England. On 18 June he spoke to his compatriots over the BBC, urging them to rally to him in London. At that moment, Charles de Gaulle entered into history.
For the rest of the war, de Gaulle frequently bit the hand that fed him. He insisted on being treated as the true embodiment of France, and quarrelled violently with Churchill and Roosevelt. But through sheer force of personality and bloody-mindedness he managed to have France recognised as one of the victorious Allies.
For 10 years after 1958 he was President of France's Fifth Republic, which he created and which endures to this day. His pursuit of 'a certain idea of France' challenged American hegemony, took France out of NATO and twice vetoed British entry into the European Community. His controversial decolonisation of Algeria brought France to the brink of civil war and provoked several assassination attempts.
Julian Jackson's magnificent biography reveals this the life of this titanic figure as never before. No previous biography has depicted his paradoxes so vividly. Much of French politics since his death has been about his legacy, and he remains by far the greatest French leader since Napoleon.
©2019 Julian Jackson (P)2019 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about A Certain Idea of France
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- 28-06-24
One of the best Bio I ever read .
This is one of the best Bio I ever listen, comparable in depth to Martin Gilbert Churchill.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 11-06-23
Perfect
A remarkable listen. I must commend the narrator on his conveyance of this beautiful story. I look forward to both voice actor and author's next venture
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 01-08-22
not a man in history but a man of history
narrator, format, content and subject all good, a narrative of determinism, contingency and Degaulle
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sabbie
- 04-12-22
Regurgitation of the Modern Joan of Arc - France.
Excellent reading, especially the portrayal of De Gaulle's baritone voice. I learned so much more about the General
from this rather than the Press portrayal of him. It balanced up the narrative.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jonathan Widell
- 19-06-21
superb
This is a historical biography of the very highest order. Sometimes the reader's pronunciation of the French words is confusing but perfect is the enemy of good.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- mr j j craggy
- 27-11-22
Excellent
One of the best audible books I’ve listened to. De Gaulle was clearly a great man. This book does him justice.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Paul Hennigan
- 10-11-24
Stick with it - an incredible life
CDG is a hard man to love but this telling makes you realise the absolute greatness of the man. CDG's priggishness and arrogance may put you off but you realise he was right what he did when you see the entire picture. I shed a tear on reading of his death, that's the journey this book took me on. Vive A Certain Idea of France,.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- I. Bell
- 25-12-20
Extraordinary book...needs a narrator who knows French
This is a genuinely monumental book and the definitive biography of de Gaulle in any language, including French. It has indeed been recognised as such even in France, usually scathing of foreigners interpreting their national symbol. But a narrator should have been chosen who spoke French or checked pronunciation: half the proper nouns are terribly mangled. E.g it is Edgard Faure, no accent on the last e (not like the composer), the Duc d’Enghein, hard g not like engine, and so on for hundreds of characters and places. But do buy this great book.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Hilary
- 16-06-23
Hugely informative
I knew nothing about de Gaulle previously and only had a primary school understanding of the part France and the French played in ww2. A lot of detail here, which was great but for the times when I wasn’t fully concentrating it was still possibly to pick up the gist.
Great sense of the personalities involved too; above all the supremely enigmatic General.
Very clear narration too, not too speedy when so much information involved and excellent sense of his voice. Highly recommend.
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2 people found this helpful
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- AOT
- 22-06-23
Good as gold on de Gaulle
A highly educational and enjoyable listen throughout. A gold mine for the enthusiasts of recent French history.
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