Modern France

by Michael F. Leruth

Overview

"A truly astonishing book of facts about France ... librarians will find this book useful for developing collections, preparing for instruction sessions, and writing library guides." – Choice

This volume offers perspective on contemporary France, exploring topics ranging from geography to popular culture.

This encyclopedia is organized into thematic chapters covering numerous aspects of life in modern France. Each chapter contains an overview of the topic and alphabetized entries providing specific examples of the theme. Special appendices offer profiles of a typical day in the life of representative members of French society, a glossary, key facts and figures about France, and a holiday chart. The volume is an essential guide for readers looking for specific topical information and for those who want to develop an informed perspective on aspects of modern France.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440855481
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/18/2022
Series:	Understanding Modern Nations
Pages:	544
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 10.30(h) x 1.45(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Michael F. Leruth, PhD, is associate professor of French and francophone studies at the College of William & Mary, USA.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 Geography 1

Overview 1

Administrative and Territorial Subdivisions 3

Cities 5

Climate 7

Historical Sites 8

Mountains 9

Natural Resources and Environment 11

North and South 13

Overseas France 14

Paris 16

Population 18

Regional Identities 21

Rivers 24

Transportation 25

Selected Bibliography 26

Chapter 2 History 31

Overview 31

Timeline 38

Charlemagne and the Carolingian Dynasty 52

Clemenceau (Georges) and World War I 53

Clovis and the Merovingian Dynasty 54

De Gaulle (Charles), World War II, and the Fifth Republic 56

Ferry (Jules) and the Third Republic 59

Francis I and the Renaissance 61

Joan of Arc and the Hundred Years' War 62

Louis IX and the Capetian Dynasty 63

Louis XIV and the Absolute Monarchy 65

Louis XVI and the End of the Ancien Régime 66

Macron (Emmanuel) and the New Political Landscape of France 69

Mitterrand (François) and France in the 1980s and 1990s 72

Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon I) and the First Empire 73

Napoleon III and the Second Empire 75

Robespierre (Maximilien) and the French Revolution 77

Sarkozy (Nicolas) and the Hyper Presidency 78

Selected Bibliography 79

Chapter 3 Government and Politics 87

Overview 87

Center 90

Constitutional Council 92

Counterterrorism 93

Elections 95

European Union 96

Far Right 98

Judicial System 99

Left 102

Military 105

Parliament 106

Presidency and Executive Branch 107

Protests 109

Republic 111

Right 114

Selected Bibliography 116

Chapter 4 Economy 123

Overview 123

Agriculture 127

Budget, Debt, and Taxes 129

Energy 130

Financial Sector 131

Innovation and Startups 134

Labor Relations 136

Luxury Goods 139

Major Industries 140

Public Sector and Privatization 142

Social Security and Healthcare 144

Tourism 148

Trade 149

Unemployment 150

Selected Bibliography 152

Chapter 5 Religion and Thought 157

Overview 157

Catholicism 159

Islam 161

Judaism 164

Laïcité 166

Philosophy (Contemporary) 168

Philosophy (Traditional) 171

Protestantism 176

Rationalism and Universalism 177

Selected Bibliography 179

Chapter 6 Social Class and Ethnicity 185

Overview 185

Arabs 189

Blacks 191

Bourgeoisie and Middle Class 193

Immigration 195

Income Distribution and Inequality 199

Nobility 201

Poverty and Homelessness 202

Refugee Crisis 204

Senior Citizens and Elderly 204

Suburbs 206

Working Class 207

Selected Bibliography 209

Chapter 7 Gender, Sexuality, Marriage, and Family 215

Overview 215

Attitudes toward Sex 218

Child Raising Practices 220

Feminism and Women's Rights 222

Gender Equality and Sexual Harassment 224

Kinship and Family Structures 226

LGBTQ+ Community 229

Marriage, Divorce, Civil Unions, and Cohabitation Today 232

Marriage Traditions 234

Selected Bibliography 236

Chapter 8 Education 241

Overview 241

Early Childhood Education and Elementary Schools 245

Erasmus and International Educational Exchange in France 247

Grandes Écoles 249

Private Schools 251

Republicanism and Public Schools 253

Secondary Schools 255

Universities and Higher Education 259

Selected Bibliography 265

Chapter 9 Language 269

Overview 269

Académie Françhise 272

Francophonie 273

Language Laws and Policies 275

Regional and Minority Languages, Dialects, and Varieties of French 278

Sexism and Gender Bias in French 282

Selected Bibliography 283

Chapter 10 Etiquette 287

Overview 287

Formal vs. Informal Forms of Address 289

Greeting Strangers, Acquaintances, Friends, and Family Members 290

Hosting and Gift Giving 292

Privacy and Personal Space 294

Social Hierarchies 297

Social Importance of Good Manners 298

Table Etiquette and Dinner Parties 300

Workplace Etiquette and Customer Relations 302

Selected Bibliography 303

Chapter 11 Literature and Drama 307

Overview 307

Eighteenth-Century Literature 309

Houellebecq (Michel) and the Recent French Novel 310

Literary Avant-Garde, 1950-1980 313

Literary Criticism and French Theory 314

Nobel Prize Laureates in Literature: J. M. G. Le Clézio and Patrick Modiano 316

Novel in the Nineteenth Century 318

Poetry (Modern and Contemporary) 320

Reza (Yasmina) and Recent French Theatre 322

Seventeenth-Century Theatre 324

Twentieth-Century Literature through Mid-Century (Novel and Theatre) 325

Selected Bibliography 327

Chapter 12 Art and Architecture 331

Overview 331

Contemporary Architecture 337

Contemporary Art 339

Fashion 343

French Cinema I (through the Nouvelle Vague) 345

French Cinema II (since the Nouvelle Vague) 347

Gothic Cathedrals 349

Impressionism 351

Loire Valley Châteaux 353

Ministry of Culture 354

Modern Architecture 356

Modern Art and the School of Paris 357

Versailles 359

Selected Bibliography 361

Chapter 13 Music and Dance 367

Overview 367

Chanson 369

Classical Music 373

Dance 377

Fête de la Musique 379

Folk Music 379

Jazz 381

Opera 382

Rock, Pop, and Rap 384

Selected Bibliography 387

Chapter 14 Food 391

Overview 391

Bread 393

Cheese 396

Food Quality, Organic Products, and GMO Resistance 397

Gastronomy 398

Regional Culinary Traditions 400

Shopping for Food 403

Wine 405

Selected Bibliography 408

Chapter 15 Leisure and Sports 413

Overview 413

Books and Reading 415

Cafés 417

Holidays 419

Movies 422

Museums 423

Outdoor Pastimes 424

Sports 426

Tour de France 429

Vacations 430

Selected Bibliography 432

Chapter 16 Media and Popular Culture 437

Overview 437

Internet, Social Media, and Video Games 440

Pop Culture Icons 443

Press 446

Radio 449

Television 450

Selected Bibliography 452

Appendix A A Day in the Life 457

A Day in the Life of a Café Owner 457

A Day in the Life of a High School Student 458

A Day in the Life of a Winegrower 459

A Day in the Life of a Working Mother 460

Appendix B Glossary of Key Terms 463

Appendix C Facts and Figures 485

Appendix D Holidays 493

Index 497

Editorial Reviews

A truly astonishing book of facts about France ... librarians will find this book useful for developing collections, preparing for instruction sessions, and writing library guides.” —CHOICE

From the Publisher