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De Gaulle: A biography
Red cloth boards. A little rubbed to edges. Some age spotting to endpapers. Unclipped dustwrapper ruffled to the edges, a little aged. 12 black & white plates plus black & white frontis. Includes notes and references, bibliographical notes and index.
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 8, 2013
A political history of de Gaulle. What is remarkable in de Gaulle’s rise to power is his sheer irrelevance prior to the 1940 invasion of France. Prior, he was just another obscure, if somewhat rebellious French General. After he became a player on the world stage. Historically there are very few parallels - none that I know of. As another author pointed out – if the plane carrying him and Spears from France to England in 1940 would have crashed, he would have been a minor footnote in French history.
As Aidan Crawley indicates, both Churchill and particularly Roosevelt tried many times to circumvent de Gaulle. They ignored him or wanted to replace him with Giraud – who was mere putty to de Gaulle.
What is also astounding about his career is that prior to 1940 – when de Gaulle turned 50 – he had little political experience- after arriving in England he became a virtual political maestro. This is not to say that he did not make mistakes – he made several. But in England in 1940 he started from nothing and organized a political machine that was able to take over France during the Allied invasion. As Mr. Crawley notes they were well organized and when each village and city was liberated they had people selected to take over from the Vichy administration. There were many reprisals when France was liberated, but a potential civil war was averted – between Vichy remnants and its opponents.
Perhaps Mr. Crawley ignores some of the magnanimity of de Gaulle. He wrote many letters to Churchill and the King and Queen thanking them profusely for their generosity and expressing gratitude and sincere admiration to the British people for their strength and adversity during six years of war. He wrote letters to Roosevelt in a similar vein. He did quarrel violently (and stupidly) with Churchill, but he deeply admired him.
The passages on Algeria are very well explained. We can see how de Gaulle wavered back and forth, but eventually withdrew French forces. One gets the impression that de Gaulle was never a strong colonialist (like Churchill) and felt that even with a strong French presence in Algeria (there were close to one million French in Algeria) it was never worth the struggle to keep it within the French empire. Nevertheless withdrawal was extremely bloody and de Gaulle just managed to hang onto power in France.
Mr. Crawley also points out that although de Gaulle was good for France – he succeeded in putting France back as an economic, political and social power in Europe – de Gaulle antagonized within France and beyond France. France was left with few friends on the world stage. De Gaulle was nobody’s toady, but he had little charm.
As Aidan Crawley indicates, both Churchill and particularly Roosevelt tried many times to circumvent de Gaulle. They ignored him or wanted to replace him with Giraud – who was mere putty to de Gaulle.
What is also astounding about his career is that prior to 1940 – when de Gaulle turned 50 – he had little political experience- after arriving in England he became a virtual political maestro. This is not to say that he did not make mistakes – he made several. But in England in 1940 he started from nothing and organized a political machine that was able to take over France during the Allied invasion. As Mr. Crawley notes they were well organized and when each village and city was liberated they had people selected to take over from the Vichy administration. There were many reprisals when France was liberated, but a potential civil war was averted – between Vichy remnants and its opponents.
Perhaps Mr. Crawley ignores some of the magnanimity of de Gaulle. He wrote many letters to Churchill and the King and Queen thanking them profusely for their generosity and expressing gratitude and sincere admiration to the British people for their strength and adversity during six years of war. He wrote letters to Roosevelt in a similar vein. He did quarrel violently (and stupidly) with Churchill, but he deeply admired him.
The passages on Algeria are very well explained. We can see how de Gaulle wavered back and forth, but eventually withdrew French forces. One gets the impression that de Gaulle was never a strong colonialist (like Churchill) and felt that even with a strong French presence in Algeria (there were close to one million French in Algeria) it was never worth the struggle to keep it within the French empire. Nevertheless withdrawal was extremely bloody and de Gaulle just managed to hang onto power in France.
Mr. Crawley also points out that although de Gaulle was good for France – he succeeded in putting France back as an economic, political and social power in Europe – de Gaulle antagonized within France and beyond France. France was left with few friends on the world stage. De Gaulle was nobody’s toady, but he had little charm.
April 22, 2023
Fascinating Biography
Bill Clinton and Winston Churchill are famous for being declared politically finished and recovering stronger than before. Charles De Gaul’s setbacks and comebacks were even more impressive. He graduated with honors from the French Academy but had an undistinguished career as an officer. Prior to the Second World War, he was on the road to retirement. De Gaul adamantly opposed surrendering to Germany following Nazi occupation of Paris. He established a Free France in the French colonies of Africa and due to British and American support became the leader of the French resistance. Support from Churchill and Eisenhower enabled him to become the leader of the French Republic following World War I I. De Gaul’s post war policies were not popular and he resigned and left politics. After living in retirement for a decade he was called into office as France was on the verge of collapse due to the Algerian crisis and chaos in France itself. Through decisive leadership and overwhelming support of the French ci
Bill Clinton and Winston Churchill are famous for being declared politically finished and recovering stronger than before. Charles De Gaul’s setbacks and comebacks were even more impressive. He graduated with honors from the French Academy but had an undistinguished career as an officer. Prior to the Second World War, he was on the road to retirement. De Gaul adamantly opposed surrendering to Germany following Nazi occupation of Paris. He established a Free France in the French colonies of Africa and due to British and American support became the leader of the French resistance. Support from Churchill and Eisenhower enabled him to become the leader of the French Republic following World War I I. De Gaul’s post war policies were not popular and he resigned and left politics. After living in retirement for a decade he was called into office as France was on the verge of collapse due to the Algerian crisis and chaos in France itself. Through decisive leadership and overwhelming support of the French ci
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January 11, 2022I can't rate this book. It was overwhelming to me in its detail of the years when De Gaulle was a leader in France. I think it was fair in its portrayal of him as a powerful man with a powerful ego. I found myself looking up others of his time-Petain and Giraud. He seemed to get along well with Eisenhower but had his problems with Roosevelt and Churchill. I wanted more information about Algeria so looked that up on Wikipedia.
June 3, 2022
De Gaulle, a megalomaniac who took advantage of France's Nazi proclivities (and the unwillingness of one and all to admit to them) in order to gain power for himself. Then he sold out his supporters to preserve his position. Amazingly, he didn't set a new, low standard for French rulers - there was worse to come in the shape of the evil Mitterrand, the morally bankrupt Chirac and now it's sunk to the level of appointing pipsqueaks (Hollande & Macron) who answer to puppet masters.
May 29, 2018
Intriguing biography
After nearly fifty years, Aidan Crowley's elegant and balanced biography still explores and explains the complexity of France's great leader. The unravelling of the sense of duty and stubbornness helps explains how De Gaulle restored French pride and avoided a military coup. All political careers end in failure but this helps explain the values of Gaullism.
After nearly fifty years, Aidan Crowley's elegant and balanced biography still explores and explains the complexity of France's great leader. The unravelling of the sense of duty and stubbornness helps explains how De Gaulle restored French pride and avoided a military coup. All political careers end in failure but this helps explain the values of Gaullism.
June 8, 2017
An enlightening readind
I must say, that de gaulle is an study in passion and persistence, the guy had many flaws, but he had greatness and singularity of purpose.
I must say, that de gaulle is an study in passion and persistence, the guy had many flaws, but he had greatness and singularity of purpose.
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April 22, 2025Biblio.com US$8.35
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews