As World War II recedes into history and our vision of it sharpens, it becomes clearer every year that Charles De Gaulle was one of the towering political figures of his day, and along with Eisenhower the only one to play a dominant military role as well.
Spanning the period form France's humiliating surrender in 1940 to De Gaulle's triumphant return in 1944 until his temporary retirement in 1946, 'The Complete War Memoirs' chronicle the wavering fortunes of the Free French government and De Gaulle's determination to restore France to her former glory.
As history, these volumes are of incalculable importance, especially for their insight into politics among the Allies. But as literature, they may be of even greater rank, De Gaulle's prose style have earned him comparison with Caesar, Thucydides, and Livy. Together, they comprise a modern classic that will serve not only as a guide to the mind and character of Charles De Gaulle, but also as a key to understanding the dynamics of World War II and its troubling aftermath.
Spanning the period form France's humiliating surrender in 1940 to De Gaulle's triumphant return in 1944 until his temporary retirement in 1946, 'The Complete War Memoirs' chronicle the wavering fortunes of the Free French government and De Gaulle's determination to restore France to her former glory.
As history, these volumes are of incalculable importance, especially for their insight into politics among the Allies. But as literature, they may be of even greater rank, De Gaulle's prose style have earned him comparison with Caesar, Thucydides, and Livy. Together, they comprise a modern classic that will serve not only as a guide to the mind and character of Charles De Gaulle, but also as a key to understanding the dynamics of World War II and its troubling aftermath.
