Modern France
The French & Francophone Studies program is delighted to announce the publication of Prof. Michael Leruth's new book Modern France: Understanding Modern Nations (ABC-CLIO 2022). 
This volume offers fresh perspectives on modern French society and culture through thematic chapters on topics ranging from geography to popular culture.
France is the country most visited by international tourists. Aside from clichéd images of baguettes and the Eiffel Tower, however, what is French society and culture really like?
Prof. Leruth has organized Modern France 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. Prof. Leruth hopes that the book 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.
