Michael F. Leruth, PhD, is associate professor of French and francophone studies at the College of William & Mary, USA.

A truly astonishing book of facts about France ... librarians will find this book useful for developing collections, preparing for instruction sessions, and writing library guides.

• Series ForewordAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: GeographyOverviewAdministrative and Territorial SubdivisionsCitiesClimateHistorical SitesMountainsNatural Resources and EnvironmentNorth and SouthOverseas FranceParisPopulationRegional IdentitiesRiversTransportationSelected BibliographyChapter 2: HistoryOverviewTimelineCharlemagne and the Carolingian DynastyClemenceau (Georges) and World War IClovis and the Merovingian DynastyDe Gaulle (Charles), World War II, and the Fifth RepublicFerry (Jules) and the Third RepublicFrancis I and the RenaissanceJoan of Arc and the Hundred Years’ WarLouis IX and the Capetian DynastyLouis XIV and the Absolute MonarchyLouis XVI and the End of the Ancien RégimeMacron (Emmanuel) and the New Political Landscape of FranceMitterrand (François) and France in the 1980s and 1990sNapoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon I) and the First EmpireNapoleon III and the Second EmpireRobespierre (Maximilien) and the French RevolutionSarkozy (Nicolas) and the Hyper PresidencySelected BibliographyChapter 3: Government and PoliticsOverviewCenterConstitutional CouncilCounterterrorismElectionsEuropean UnionFar RightJudicial SystemLeftMilitaryParliamentPresidency and Executive BranchProtestsRepublicRightSelected BibliographyChapter 4: EconomyOverviewAgricultureBudget, Debt, and TaxesEnergyFinancial SectorInnovation and StartupsLabor RelationsLuxury GoodsMajor IndustriesPublic Sector and PrivatizationSocial Security and HealthcareTourismTradeUnemploymentSelected BibliographyChapter 5: Religion and ThoughtOverviewCatholicismIslamJudaismLaïcitéPhilosophy (Contemporary)Philosophy (Traditional)ProtestantismRationalism and UniversalismSelected BibliographyChapter 6: Social Class and EthnicityOverviewArabsBlacksBourgeoisie and Middle ClassImmigrationIncome Distribution and InequalityNobilityPoverty and HomelessnessRefugee CrisisSenior Citizens and ElderlySuburbsWorking ClassSelected BibliographyChapter 7: Gender, Sexuality, Marriage, and FamilyOverviewAttitudes toward SexChild Raising PracticesFeminism and Women’s RightsGender Equality and Sexual HarassmentKinship and Family StructuresLGBTQ+ CommunityMarriage, Divorce, Civil Unions, and Cohabitation TodayMarriage TraditionsSelected BibliographyChapter 8: EducationOverviewEarly Childhood Education and Elementary SchoolsErasmus and International Educational Exchange in FranceGrandes ÉcolesPrivate SchoolsRepublicanism and Public SchoolsSecondary SchoolsUniversities and Higher EducationSelected BibliographyChapter 9: LanguageOverviewAcadémie FrançaiseFrancophonieLanguage Laws and PoliciesRegional and Minority Languages, Dialects, and Varieties of FrenchSexism and Gender Bias in FrenchSelected BibliographyChapter 10: EtiquetteOverviewFormal vs. Informal Forms of AddressGreeting Strangers, Acquaintances, Friends, and Family MembersHosting and Gift GivingPrivacy and Personal SpaceSocial HierarchiesSocial Importance of Good MannersTable Etiquette and Dinner PartiesWorkplace Etiquette and Customer RelationsSelected BibliographyChapter 11: Literature and DramaOverviewEighteenth-Century LiteratureHouellebecq (Michel) and the Recent French NovelLiterary Avant-Garde, 1950–1980Literary Criticism and French TheoryNobel Prize Laureates in Literature: J. M. G. Le Clézio and Patrick ModianoNovel in the Nineteenth CenturyPoetry (Modern and Contemporary)Reza (Yasmina) and Recent French TheatreSeventeenth-Century TheatreTwentieth-Century Literature through Mid-Century (Novel and Theatre)Selected BibliographyChapter 12: Art and ArchitectureOverviewContemporary ArchitectureContemporary ArtFashionFrench Cinema I (through the Nouvelle Vague)French Cinema II (since the Nouvelle Vague)Gothic CathedralsImpressionismLoire Valley ChâteauxMinistry of CultureModern ArchitectureModern Art and the School of ParisVersaillesSelected BibliographyChapter 13: Music and DanceOverviewChansonClassical MusicDanceFête de la MusiqueFolk MusicJazzOperaRock, Pop, and RapSelected BibliographyChapter 14: FoodOverviewBreadCheeseFood Quality, Organic Products, and GMO ResistanceGastronomyRegional Culinary TraditionsShopping for FoodWineSelected BibliographyChapter 15: Leisure and SportsOverviewBooks and ReadingCafésHolidaysMoviesMuseumsOutdoor PastimesSportsTour de FranceVacationsSelected BibliographyChapter 16: Media and Popular CultureOverviewInternet, Social Media, and Video GamesPop Culture IconsPressRadioTelevisionSelected BibliographyAppendix A: A Day in the LifeA Day in the Life of a Café OwnerA Day in the Life of a High School StudentA Day in the Life of a WinegrowerA Day in the Life of a Working MotherAppendix B: Glossary of Key TermsAppendix C: Facts and FiguresAppendix D: HolidaysIndexAbout the Author