Caesar to Charlemagne: The Beginnings of France

Translated by Jennifer Nicholson. With 195 illustrations and 7 maps. Under its original title 'Gaulois et Francs', this book by the Honorary Dean of the Faculty of Letters at Grenoble University was awarded the Prix Thérouann, 1966, one of the most important French literary prizes. For the English edition he has written the special feature of three 'Interludes', summarizing the progress of English history during the period covered in the preceding part of the book. Thus the progress of Romanization, the effect of barbarian invasions and the impact of Christian invasions in both countries can be compared, and bearings taken by the English voyager in the uncharted seas of French history. Robert Latouche is the author of several historical works. This study is an impressive history of the making of France. In writing the 'Gallic Wars' Caesar left for posterity the only contemporary source of our knowledge of the first of France’s national heroes, Vercingetorix, the defender of Gallic independence. Long after him (and at the end of the book) the reader encounters Charlemagne — the personality who shed incomparable lustre over the Frankish realm, and who ruled over almost all western and central Europe—the dynastic prelude to the kingdom of France.