Francois Mitterrand: The Making of a Socialist Prince in Republican France

(Hardback)

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This text traces the presidential career of the Socialist French President, covering his early years, his participation in the Vichy government, the Resistance and the governments of the Fourth Republic, and his 23 year march to the pinnacle of national power as leader of the French opposition during the first decades of the Fifth Republic. It is the story of a politician who built a solid majority starting from scratch in "adopted" political territory, a chaotic world of utopists, anarchists, purists, ideologues and disciplined militants - in short, the French left. Baumann-Reynolds discusses the "whats" - Mitterrand's socialism, his republicanism, his Machiavellianism - and the "hows" - how he recuperated the communist vote.

Reviews

Mitterrand led and exceptionally rich and varied political career both in France and on the world scene. He has been controversial, both admired and despised. The author's purpose is to acquaint American readers with Mitterrand in a readable English biography. * Choice *

Author Bio

Sally Baumann-Reynolds received her AB in French from Indiana University and MA and PhD from the University of Chicago. She taught for seven years at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and since then has been teaching and writing in the Raleigh area.