Jean Moulin, 1899-1943: The French Resistance and the Republic [Hardcover]

Alan Clinton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0333764862 | ISBN-13: 978-0333764862 | Publication Date: March 20, 2002

Jean Moulin is a universally recognized French hero, celebrated as the delegate of General de Gaulle to Nazi-occupied France in 1942-43 and founder of the National Resistance Council in May 1943. He is known for defiance of the German invaders in June 1940 and for his death in the hands of Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie in July 1943. This book is the first fully-documented account in English of his republican background, his resistance activities, and his death and reputation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...presents a succinct survey of interpretations of Moulin and stresses his wartime activities.
-Choice

About the Author

Alan Clinton is Associate Lecturer in Arts at the Open University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 291 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (March 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0333764862
• ISBN-13: 978-0333764862
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,210,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ..a rather bland synopsis, September 9, 2003

By 

N. Page (UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jean Moulin, 1899-1943: The French Resistance and the Republic (Hardcover)

Jean Moulin, celebrated resistance hero, creator of the 'army of the night' a national icon in France and a martyr....yet little is known about him in the English speaking world. A decent work on the man who has assumed the status of secular saint is long overdue. In France this pre-war dilettante with his leftist leanings and a talent for art has come to symbolise the courage of resistance, that enabled the re-establishment of the French Republic in 1944. Facing the German invaders, Moulin as Préfet of the Eure-et-Loir département, stayed at his post, organising what help he could for the poupulation. From his initial somewhat foolhardy dealings with the German occupying powers grew the conviction that something had to be done and Moulin turned his skills of organisation to uniting the disparate elements of resistance. As De Gaulle's representative in France he played a key role in the great drama of 'les années noires' before finally being betrayed at a meeting in a suburb of Lyons in June 1943..captured & tortured by the infamous Klaus Barbie, the story of the circumstances of his capture and subsequent death at the hands of his torturers has all the fantastic elements of the best crime thrillers and probably does much to explain the enduring appeal of his story in France. However while the author rightly takes author Patrick Marnham to task for his recent over wrought & sensationalist account of the enigma that was Jean Moulin, this new work is ultimately far too bland to recommend absolutely..In the early chapters the author concentrates on portraying Moulin in the context of France's republican & administrative tradition, not exactly riveting stuff. Building an army of resisters, living on the run, parachutages, secret rendez-vous at safe houses, all the ingredients of a fantastic thriller are here..Yet..progress was slow & painful & amateurish and the resisters themselves, in many ways careless, & bitterly divided, could have led the clumsiest of detectives to the key suspect..I suppose the authors achievement here is showing how Moulin's capture & death was perhaps a result of this inept bungling and stupidity, resulting in a banal end for a tragic hero..this book ultimately reflects this mundanity.. the best & last chapter of the book looks at Moulin's contested legacy, reviewing the literature & some of the more recent & increasingly bizarre theories of how & why Moulin died and what he represented..
..However the main reason for only three stars here is the incredible price tag on this work...designed perhaps for undergraduate or university libraries, anyone actually having to pay for a decent history of Moulin and France during the years 1940-44 should forgo this work and acquire Julian Jackson's superlative "France 1940-44 - the dark years", which is a book three times the size of this one for a third of the price..!