David S. Bell is the Professor of French Government and Politics at the University of Leeds.

"David S. Bell's excellent new bigraphy describes an astonishing career."Times Literary Supplement "This is one of the best political biographies that I know. Bell depicts Mitterrand with the bark on and pulls no punches. It is a superbly realistic study of a totally political man."Erwin C. Hargrove, University of Vanderbilt"David Bell’s thorough grasp of the political background of modern France enables him to provide a fascinating account of Mitterrand’s journey from the 1930s through the war years and the Fourth French Republic to the complicated and fluid politics of the Fifth Republic. Mitterrand's personal beliefs are hard to fathom, but throughout this penetrating study David Bell guides us to a good understanding of the motivations and values which lay behind the actions of one of the most enigmatic politicians to have held power in France."B. D. Graham, formerly University of Sussex

• AcknowledgementsAbbreviationsIntroductionChapter 1 1916-1944Chapter 2 The Fourth RepublicChapter 3 De Gaulle’s RepublicChapter 4 The Common ProgrammeChapter 5 Alliance Problems 1978-81Chapter 6 The First Socialist GovernmentChapter 7 ‘Cohabitation’ 1986-1988Chapter 8 Second Term 1988-92Chapter 9 The Last Years 1991-1996ConclusionBibliography

David S. Bell is the Professor of French Government and Politics at the University of Leeds.

"David S. Bell's excellent new bigraphy describes an astonishing career."Times Literary Supplement "This is one of the best political biographies that I know. Bell depicts Mitterrand with the bark on and pulls no punches. It is a superbly realistic study of a totally political man."Erwin C. Hargrove, University of Vanderbilt"David Bell’s thorough grasp of the political background of modern France enables him to provide a fascinating account of Mitterrand’s journey from the 1930s through the war years and the Fourth French Republic to the complicated and fluid politics of the Fifth Republic. Mitterrand's personal beliefs are hard to fathom, but throughout this penetrating study David Bell guides us to a good understanding of the motivations and values which lay behind the actions of one of the most enigmatic politicians to have held power in France."B. D. Graham, formerly University of Sussex

• AcknowledgementsAbbreviationsIntroductionChapter 1 1916-1944Chapter 2 The Fourth RepublicChapter 3 De Gaulle’s RepublicChapter 4 The Common ProgrammeChapter 5 Alliance Problems 1978-81Chapter 6 The First Socialist GovernmentChapter 7 ‘Cohabitation’ 1986-1988Chapter 8 Second Term 1988-92Chapter 9 The Last Years 1991-1996ConclusionBibliography