A Brief History of France by Dominic Haynes

A detailed and fascinating plunge more than 2,000 years into the past, A Brief History of France: Empires, Kings, and Revolutions by Dominic Haynes is an accessible yet academic read on a perennial epicenter of Europe. From throwing off the yoke of empires to worshipping pampered kings as gods, the role of France in geopolitics and popular culture has often been outsized, and this meticulously researched look into the nation’s evolution explains why and how it achieved such global significance. Though the first third of the book can be somewhat dense with ancient history, it lays a foundation for Haynes’ thorough storytelling around the more modern iterations of the French state. Accessible for historians, Francophiles, and casual readers alike, this is an informative and comprehensive introduction to a vitally important country and its history.