Julian Jackson's monumental history of Vichy France is a comprehensive and engaging account, offering deep insights into the complexities and ambiguities of the period. The book is praised for its meticulous research and accessible writing style, making it a significant contribution to historical scholarship.
Julian Jackson's book provides a detailed and nuanced exploration of Vichy France, highlighting the intricacies and contradictions of the regime. The reviewer commends the work for its thoroughness and readability, noting Jackson's ability to weave together diverse sources into a compelling narrative. While the book is lauded as a definitive account, the reviewer points out some limitations, such as its 'top-down' approach and the retention of conventional categories like 'collaboration' and 'resistance.' The reviewer also suggests that the role of civil society and local governance could have been explored more deeply.
Quick quotes
The French past must be faced in all its contradictions and complexity.
If one wants the cow to give milk, it must be fed.
The more is known about the social history of totalitarian societies, the more it is clear how unsuccessful they were in transforming civil society, even when people did not resist in any organized or political way.