Charles De Gaulle's leadership of the French while in exile during World
War II cemented his place in history. In contemporary France, he is the
stuff of legend, consistently acclaimed as the nation's pre-eminent
historical figure. But paradoxes abound. For one thing, his personal
popularity sits oddly with his social origins and professional
background. Neither the Army nor the Catholic Church is particularly
well-regarded in France today, as they are seen to represent antiquated
traditions and values. So why, then, do the French nonetheless identify
with, celebrate, and even revere this austere and devout Catholic, who
remained closely wedded to military values throughout his life?
In The Shadow of the General resolves this mystery and explains how de
Gaulle has come to occupy such a privileged position in the French
imagination. Sudhir Hazareesingh's story of how an individual life was
transformed into national myth also tells a great deal about the French
collective self in the twenty-first century: its fractured memory, its
aspirations to greatness, and its manifold anxieties. Indeed, alongside
the tale of de Gaulle's legacy, the author unfolds a much broader
narrative: The story of modern France.
