This volume offers perspective on modern French society and culture through thematic chapters on topics ranging from geography to popular culture. Ideal for students and general readers, this book includes insightful, current information about France’s past, present, and future.

France is the country most visited by international tourists. Aside from cliched images of baguettes and the Eiffel Tower, however, what is French society and culture really like?

Modern France is organized into thematic chapters covering the full range of French history and contemporary daily life. Chapter topics include: geography; history; government and politics; economy; religion and thought; social classes and ethnicity; gender, marriage, and sexuality; education; language; etiquette; literature and drama; art and architecture; music and dance; food; leisure and sports; and media and popular culture. Each chapter contains an overview of the topic and alphabetized entries on examples of each theme.

A detailed historical timeline covers prehistoric times to the presidency of Emmanuel Macron. Special appendices offer profiles of a typical day in the life of representative members of French society, a glossary, key facts and figures about France, and a holiday chart. The volume will be useful for readers looking for specific topical information and for those who want to develop an informed perspective on aspects of modern France.

Includes Day in the Life features that portray the specific daily activities of various people in the country, from high school students to working class people to professionals, thereby providing readers with insight into daily life in the country

Defines key terms related to the reading in a glossary appendix

Provides at-a-glance information about France’s festivals and feast days in a chart of national holidays

Presents photos and sidebars helping to illustrate key topics and allowing students to dive more deeply into ideas

Offers historical perspective on key elements of French identity: its major historical figures and conflicts, its institutions and traditions, its values and national symbols, its regions and cities, its cultural and intellectual achievements, and its language and literature

Outlines key issues in which tradition and modernity are in tension: multiculturalism vs. universalism, religious pluralism vs. secularism, globalization vs. sovereignism, technological and economic innovation vs. cultural protectionism, and reform vs. protest