Modern France

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23761, 14 September 1940, Page 4 (Supplement)

Modern France

ANYONE who wants to obtain more than a superficial under- -*■ of the causes contributing to the astonishing collapse of the French nation could not do better than consult Professor Brogan's clear narrative of the period, 1870-1939. History is, of course, a continuous process, one thing arising out of another, but this survey of the last 70 years is reasonably complete in itself and sufficiently explanatory of the overwhelming disaster that arrived in May and June of this year. Professor Brogan is fortunately free of preconceived ideas or theories, but nevertheless manages to present events

A Revealing History

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bo that steadily the' reader is caught up in their drama. According to their disposition, different people will fasten on different factors as the determinants. Npne can fail to note, however, the disease of politics infecting everything else. , Possibly this illness arose and remained chronic beoause of the weakness of the executive, a patent defect in the Constitution of the Third Republic. France lacked a master and could not master herself.

Perhaps it will be better not to attempt any snap judgments, however, and leave the reader to form his own opinion on the evidence so faithfully and lucidly presented by Professor Brogan.

"The Development of Modern France," 1870-1939, by D. W. Brogan. (Hamish Hamilton.)