Casey's Reviews > The General: Charles De Gaulle and the France He Saved

A great book, providing a detailed biography of French statesman Charles De Gaulle, along with a history of France through his lifetime. The author, British journalist and historian Jonathan Fenby, skips nothing, covering all the stages of De Gaulle’s life in detail. This provides the thorough background needed to fully understand De Gaulle’s actions and demeanor in his penultimate years as President of the Fifth Republic. Alongside the biography is a running history of France, allowing the reader full immersion into the world De Gaulle experienced. Given the wide expanse of people and events covered, I found myself hard pressed at times to keep track of all the characters. Fenby uses his background as a journalist to provide flavor to the book, recounting personal experiences and using trusted sources to better explain events. I definitely appreciate Gaullism and the role of Western Europe in the early Cold War thanks to this book. A great book for any student of 20th century history. Highly recommended for all seeking a better understanding of how a nation can recover from traumatic wartime defeat.