Charles de Gaulle Biography

by Don Cook

Book Overview

From one of America's longest-serving foreign correspondents, a biography of France's controversial politician and statesman.The first major biography of Charles de Gaulle written from an American... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399128581
• ISBN13: 9780399128585
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Putnam Publishing Group
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

During World War II FDR & Churchill 's most important

problem was Vichy, the Free French & what to do with De Gaulle. Well, no. It was a mere sideshow. But it takes center stage in this long (tape actually) book by Don Cook. 75% of what I now know about De Gaulle & Vichy 1940-45 came from this book. Not only is this a a full life biography but a fine history, most importantly World War II & De Gaulle's part in it & how he became the lone voice of the free French movement. He was the real France & never doubted it. It was his finest hour & if he had never done another thing in his life he would have been great. How he did it is another manner. Aloof, humorless, un- compromising & always right he was one of the few men that FDR actually disliked as well as distrusted. These poor relations caused FDR & to lesser degree Churchill to cling much to long to Vichy as France. They stupidity refused to recognize De Gaulle's free France when it was obvious to the rest of the world he was the only game in town as far as the French were concerned. He made England & the United States pay for this snub for the next 30 years for he was also an unforgiving man. The other major coup ( & coup is the correct word) of his life was rescuing France from itself In 1958 & creating the Fifth Republic. He wrote a tailor made constitution that made him president for a seven year term. That he could have installed himself as dictator for life is probable. His love for freedom & independence for all men is indisputable. De Gaulle was France, France is De Gaulle. Even now, 30 years later.