Petain by Charles Williams

Petain by Charles Williams

Charles Williams' major biography of Philippe Petain (1856-1951) tells of a peasant who became a Marshal of France and the Head of the Vichy State. A slow climb up the army ranks was leading inexorably to retirement when war broke out. He defended Verdun in 1916 and settled the mutinies in 1917. In May 1940, he realised that France had been defeated and requested an armistice. As head of unoccupied France, he jockeyed between Nazis, Allies and Vichy politicians until, in 1945, he returned to France to be tried for treason. His death sentence was commuted by General de Gaulle to life imprisonment. In recounting Petain's long life, Lord Williams, one of our most notable political biographers, has successfully illustrated the character of an extraordinary man.

'Williams's highly readable biography of Petain is an important addition he has given us a fully rounded biography that puts the man into a wider perspective a well-researched portrait that deserves to be read on both sides of the Channel' THE TIMES HES

'If the biographer of de Gaulle is to tackle Petain he must be prepared to stand intellectually on his head, a feat demanding much mental agility as well as capacity to combine detachment with a fine understanding of human natureCharles Williams has accepted the challenge and met it triumphantly' THE SPECTATOR

'A magnificent biography' LITERARY REVIEW

'A masterly book, a triumph of balance, sustained scholarship and readability' INDEPENDENT

Charles Williams, Lord Williams of Elvel CBE, is a former banker and Labour party politician: He became a life peer in1985 and was elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition in 1989. He is now one of Britain's most distinguished biographers.

SKU	GOR004612979
ISBN 13	9780316861274
ISBN 10	0316861278
Title	Petain
Author	Charles Williams
Condition	Very Good
Publisher	Little, Brown & Company
Year published	2005-05-12
Number of pages	576
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us