Bringing together history, literature, and popular culture, this book provides a cultural history of France from a period of dominance in the mid-19th century to one of decline or crisis in the first few years of the third millennium. Contains both chronological narrative and a selection of primary documents in translation.

ROGER CÉLESTIN and ELIANE DALMOLIN are both Professors of French at the University of Connecticut, USA, and co-chairs of the French Studies Program. They have worked extensively in the area of Nineteenth and Twentieth century French culture and literature and are the co-editors of the only academic journal exclusively dedicated to contemporary France published in the USA. Having lived and worked in both 'worlds', the authors are academically and personally well versed in French and Francophone modernity, as well as with its American perception. The fact that they have been teaching, for close to six years, the course for which this book could be used, makes them acutely aware of the specific needs of its potential student audience.