Immigrants and Intellectuals

'This book is a fundamental contribution to an understanding of the process which led immigrant workers in France to become politically conscious.' - Professor Alain Romey, University of Nice. 'A significant contribution to our understanding of French political and social history.' - Dr Jim House, Director, Centre for French and Francophone Cultural Studies, University of Leeds. 'Gordon's new book, subtitled "May '68 and the Rise of Anti-Racism in France" is to be welcomed. It covers the period from the end of the Algerian war to 1983, and is based on over ten years' work, using both archival material and interviews and discussions with participants. The bibliography alone is a valuable research resource. Yet while the book is scholarly in the best sense of the term, it is not academic in the worst sense. It is clearly written, without jargon and full of detailed examples, and makes clear the author's passionate personal involvement in his material.' Revolutionary History Generally speaking, Immigrants and Intellectuals is an excellent work. Whilst being well written and impressively researched, Gordon's notable talent as an historian breathes life in to this period and illuminates a perspective of May '68 that is rarely acknowledged. He does well to show the sense of optimism and the legacy that endured well beyond the strikes themselves, and masterfully dispels the myth that May '68 was a purely French affair. With frequent references to figures such as Sartre, de Beauvoir, Foucault, Debray, de Gaulle, Jospin, and Mitterrand, in addition to less well-known figures such as Djellali Ben Ali and Said Bouziri, Gordon also provides a cast of 'characters' that Tolkien would have been proud of. French History A contribution of the first order to the historiography of the '68 years ... Enters immigration into the history of 68, and 68 into the history of immigration. Vingtieme Siecle