The Idea of France

First published in 1998 by Librairie ArthFme Fayard as La France imaginTe , Birnbaum’s fascinating study is now available to English readers. Birnbaum traces the intellectual trends, particularly the opposing currents that arise from the Catholic Church versus those of the Enlightenment, of today’s France to roots in and preceding the French Revolution. He traces the development of these trends through the intervening centuries to explore their expression in the current political situation and the attitudes French people express towards issues that include foreigners, Americanization, and diversity.