Time: 5:00 - 7:00pm Venue: David Sizer Lecture Theatre
‘A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle’
Julian Jackson, Head of the School of History
Thursday 27 Sept (Week 1), 5pm, David Sizer Lecture Theatre (Francis Bancroft Building)
Nearly 40 years after his death, Charles de Gaulle towers like no other figure across French history and politics. The hero of the French Resistance – who told his country in 1940 that “the flame of French resistance must not be extinguished” – he led the Provisional Government in exile during the War, became Prime Minister and President of his country, vetoed British membership of the European Community and established the Fifth Republic under which France is governed today. The current President, Emmanuel Macron, inserted de Gaulle’s memoirs into his official portrait; his opponent in 2017, Marine Le Pen, compared herself openly to de Gaulle.
In this talk, Professor Julian Jackson will discuss de Gaulle’s life and legacy and its lessons for President Macron. His new biography of de Gaulle, published in 2018, has been described as ‘awesome’ (Sunday Times), ‘a tour-de-force’ (Standpoint), ‘a truly great book’ (Sunday Telegraph) and ‘a monumental achievement’ (The Times). There will be a drinks reception after the event, and we hope very much that you will be able to join us.