cover image The Paris Game: Charles de Gaulle, the Liberation of Paris, and the Gamble that Won France

The Paris Game: Charles de Gaulle, the Liberation of Paris, and the Gamble that Won France

Ray Argyle. Dundurn (IPS, U.S. dist.; UTP, Canadian dist.), $29.99 trade paper (488p) ISBN 978-1-4597-2286-6

This biography of Charles de Gaulle examines his military and political career, and his actions and accomplishments during and after the Second World War. Based on de Gaulle's personal reminiscences, letters, diaries, and official records, journalist and author Argyle (Kennedy After Dallas) re-examines the general's decisive role in the French Resistance, his leadership in political development of post-war France, and his pursuit of an independent foreign policy that strengthened the global economic and political influence of France. Argyle portrays him as a "transformative figure of the twentieth century," whose ideas are largely shared by the French people today. He led the country in the time of war and political turmoil. According to the author, de Gaulle's policies were often driven by spontaneous decision-making, but whenever he played a wild card, he always played it well. History has proved that he had made "right decisions on all his major challenges," Argyle argues. Engaging, well-written and well-reseached, this is a book that can satisfy both the academic mind and amateur curiosity. (Sept.)