The Complete War Memoirs of Charles De Gaulle (Paperback)

~ (Author) "ALL MY LIFE I have thought of France in a certain way..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, Free France, General de Gaulle (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Originally three separate volumes covering three distinct periods, this single edition encompasses all of de Gaulle's personal writings from the fall of France in 1940 to the aftermath of the war in 1946. Maps.

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1048 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers; Carroll & Graf ed. edition (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786705469
• ISBN-13: 978-0786705467
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #530,405 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential historical document and a suprisingly good read., August 24, 1998

By	[e-mail] (New York) - See all my reviews

As one might expect, De Gaulle's memoirs of the Second World War are deeply concerned with self-justification, if not self-glorification. More surprisingly, they are good reading. De Gaulle writes in a formal, but clear and elegant style. The period covered is from the fall of France, through De Gaulle's flight to England and formation of the Free French, to the liberation and a bit of the postwar period. Obviously, this is not objective history. The chief interest of the book is that De Gaulle's personality and opinions colors every page. The reader may indeed be irritated, or he may be amused, by the author's undisguised self-regard, but in any case there are compensations. There is revealing detail on events such as the fall of France and the invasion of North Africa. With great candor and sharp perception De Gaulle assesses his own and others' strategies. There are good pen-portraits of Churchill and many other contemporaries. And there is the fascination of viewing great events through the prism of a commanding mind..

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, March 10, 2000

By	A. Towson (Lynbrook, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is outstanding for its literary, even poetic, power. De Gaulle thinks of France as a person fated for tragedy and greatness. His biggest problem is achieving recognition as the political representative of France after France has signed an armistice with the Germans: Churchill tells him that although he claims to represent France, neither England or the US will recognize him as such; De Gaulle steadily replies that it is sufficient for him if the French people recognize him. This is the story of a man standing against the entire world for the sake of an ideal. Reminded me of Nelson Mandela!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, December 14, 2004

By	Carol Smith "Carol" (Glasgow, Scotland) - See all my reviews

An essential book and one of the best autobiographies ever. Unlike Churchill and others, de Gaulle researched and wrote his momoirs all by himself, without any "contributors" and shadow writers. He writes clearly, the style is formal and elegant. A joy to read, which is wonderfully surprising and refreshing considering the stuffy nature of most such undertakings. To truly understand the man, one has to read this. His motives, his love for France, the belief in France's destiny. The world has still a lot to learn from him.