Description
Book SynopsisThe Battle of Waterloo was just the beginning of a long transition to peace. Christine Haynes offers the first comprehensive history of the post-Napoleonic occupation of France. Transforming former European enemies into allies, the mission established Paris as a cosmopolitan capital and foreshadowed postwar reconstruction in the twentieth century.
Trade ReviewWhile warfare tends to get more attention, how wars end and how societies are rebuilt afterwards is often just as important. In this deeply researched, elegantly written book, Haynes offers a compelling and insightful account of the Allied occupation of France after the wars against Napoleon. She gives a visceral sense of what the experience was like for all parties and shows how the occupation enabled the making of a lasting peace and the reconstruction of French society and politics. -- Brian E. Vick, author of
The Congress of ViennaA very good book, written with verve and attention to archival detail, in a manner reminiscent of the great historian of France Richard Cobb. In addition to being the first serious English-language treatment of an important subject, it is an exemplary blend of social, cultural, financial, and economic (as well as military and diplomatic) history. -- Rafe Blaufarb, author of
The Great DemarcationHaynes draws on a wealth of evidence to weave a rich history of the occupation that provided a key moment of reflection over the political idea of ‘Europe.’ This is an impressive contribution to the literature on the French Restoration, liberalism in nineteenth-century Europe, occupation and peacemaking. -- Rachel Chrastil, author of
The Siege of Strasbourg
