Read Series: France
by Author Alistair Horne
The Fall of Paris: The Siege and the Commune 1870-71 (2007)
When I think about the Paris Commune, I feel a vague sort of dread. I remember visiting the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery for the first time and seeing the wall—the infamous Communards' Wall—in front of which nearly a hundred fifty insurrectionists were executed by firing squad. I was in awe of h...
To Lose a Battle: France 1940 (2007)
Germany’s attack on France in 1940 is one of the most famous military campaigns among both military historians and the general public. Alistair Horne’s To Lose a Battle presents a detailed examination of the campaign itself, while continually contextualizing it within the framework of France’s co...
The Price of Glory: Verdun 1916 (1994)
I have a Sick Child right now, which means I'm currently running on less than three hours' sleep. This feels to me like total exhaustion. Still, things could be a lot worse. It's been instructive to remind myself that French soldiers in the line at Verdun not uncommonly went eleven days without a...