Description
Book SynopsisDuring the night of 25 July 1941, assassins planted a time bomb in the bed of the former French Interior Minister, Marx Dormoy. The explosion on the following morning launched a two-year investigation that traced Dormoy’s murder to the highest echelons of the Vichy regime. Dormoy, who had led a 1937 investigation into the Cagoule, a violent right-wing terrorist organization, was the victim of a captivating revenge plot. Based on the meticulous examination of thousands of documents, Assassination in Vichy tells the story of Dormoy’s murder and the investigation that followed.
At the heart of this book lies a true crime that was sensational in its day. A microhistory that tells a larger and more significant story about the development of far-right political movements, domestic terrorism, and the importance of courage, Assassination in Vichy explores the impact of France’s deep political divisions, wartime choices, and post-war memory.
Trade Review"In their study of Marx Dormoy and his murder, Brunelle and Finley-Croswhite provide something for scholars and casual consumers of history alike. Fans of true crime, especially, will not be disappointed." -- Julie M. Powell *
Origins, March 2021 *
"The research and writing pair Gayle K. Brunelle and Annette Finley-Croswhite have a knack for finding compelling stories that are historically revealing. With their new book, Assassination in Vichy: Marx Dormoy and the Struggle for the Soul of France, they again present a case study of a murder perpetrated by right-wing terrorists. As with their first book, they blend readability with intellectual rigor." -- Mattie Fitch, Marymount University *
H-France *
"Original in its content and insightful in its analysis, Assassination in Vichy will appeal not only to French history enthusiasts, but also to those who enjoy learning about the complex nature of wartime justice and France's rather complicated role in the Second World War." -- Catherine Gaughan, Ryerson University *
The French Review *
“A thrilling work of historical scholarship, thoughtful and scrupulous.” --
Kirkus ReviewsTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction July 26, 1941: Explosion 1. 1888–1941: Marx Dormoy and the Soul of France 2. 1941: A Long, Hot Summer 3. July 26–30, 1941: Anatomy of a Crime Scene 4. August 14, 1941: A Bombing in Nice 5. 1941: Recruiting the Assassins 6. August–October 1941: The Net Widens 7. October 1941–March 1942: The Waiting Game 8. April 18, 1942: The Return of Pierre Laval 9. January 23, 1943: German Intervention 10. August 26, 1944: Liberation Conclusion Today: The Legacy of Marx Dormoy Glossary Organizations Timeline Bibliography
