Revolution Franaise - Sophie Pedder

Now updated with new material including interviews with Emmanuel MacronTwo years after Emmanuel Macron came from nowhere to seize the French presidency, Sophie Pedder, The Economist's Paris bureau chief, tells the story of his remarkable rise and time in office so far. In this updated edition, published with a new foreword, Pedder revisits her analysis of Macron's troubles and triumphs in the light of the gilets jaunes protests. Eighteen months after he led his own audacious insurgency against France's established parties Macron would face another popular insurrection. This time, he was the target. In her vivid account, Pedder analyses the first real political crisis of Macron's tenure, how the movement emerged on roundabouts and in cyberspace, its impact on his plans to transform France, and the repercussions for representative democracy. On the eve of important European elections, and with nationalist and populist forces rising across the continent, she considers whether Macron can still hope to hold the centre ground, work with Germany to rebuild post-Brexit Europe, and defend the multilateral liberal order.Meticulously researched, enriched by interviews with the French president, and written in Pedder's gripping and immensely readable style, this is the essential, authoritative account for anyone wishing to understand Macron and the future of France in the world.

Sophie Pedder has been the Paris Bureau Chief of The Economist since 2003. As well as writing for The Economist, she has had articles published in Prospect, Foreign Affairs, Le Monde, Paris-Match and Le Figaro, among others. She appears regularly to comment on French politics on CNN, the BBC and other media. In 2012 JC Latts published her (French) book Le Dni Franais, which Reuters described as a 'media phenomenon'.

The seminal account of Macron's rise, as riveting as a thriller.
Lauren Collins, staff writer at the New Yorker and author of When in French: Love in a Second Language

An important and brilliant book, sparkling with insights into the elusive and highly original personality of Emmanuel Macron, and the scale of his ambition to transform France and re-launch Europe.
Lord Peter Ricketts, former British Ambassador to France

An important book on Europe's most influential leader and whether liberalism has a future.
Robert Peston, ITV Political Editor

[An] excellent and lavishly sourced account of Macron's "quest to reinvent a nation" ... an illuminating book about a highly unusual politician.
Financial Times

Quick-paced, witty and elegantly written … Pedder's book is a breath of fresh air for the calmness and intelligence with which she deciphers and dissects the man and the politician.
The Times

Probably the foreign journalist who knows [Macron] best
Irish Times

[An] impressive combination of reportage and analysis, enriched with tte--tte interviews …
fluently written and well-plotted
The Economist

Having read Revolution Franaise I understand Macron much better now and the modernisation he is attempting in France.
Lord [Andrew] Adonis

[An] excellent new biography
Charles Grant, Director, Centre for European Reform

Sharp … written with concise elegance
Sunday Times

An insightful examination of the rise, vision, and potential impact of France's youngest president ... authoritative
Kirkus Reviews

A superb book … Sophie Pedder has a deep understanding of what drives France and the French
Franois Heisbourg, Chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies council, Special Adviser at the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratgique in Paris

First rate
… Revolution Francaise offers the best answer in English so far to two big questions: who is this man? And how will he change his country? … This is a model biography by a writer who knows and loves France
New Statesman