France And The United States: The Cold Alliance Since World War Ii

A breezy summary of the difficult relations between the two countries, beginning with America's illusions about Pétain and the Vichy government and ending with differences over the Gulf War and beyond. Evenhanded and persuasive in his critical appraisal of both powers, Costigliola, an American scholar, takes account of the cultural presuppositions in the public mind; Sartre and Derrida, for example, receive passing note as examples of intellectual influences on politics. A competent work with few surprises.