Synopses & Reviews
Along with Mikhail Gorbachev, Helmut Kohl, and Francois Mitterand, Jacques Chirac is one of the most iconic statesmen of the twentieth century. Two-time president of France, mayor of Paris, and international politician, a recent poll voted him the most admired political figure in France, with current president Nicolas Sarkozy ranking in 32nd place. This memoir covers the full scope of Chirac's political career of more than 50 years and includes the last century's most significant events. A protégé of General de Gaulle, Chirac started political life after France's defeat in Algeria in the early 1960s. He then became Prime Minister George de Pompidou's "bulldozer" and a personal negotiator with Saddam Hussein for France's oil interests in the Persian Gulf. He sold Iraq its first nuclear reactor and incurred the wrath of the United States and Israel, which he discusses in striking detail. As mayor of Paris, Chirac was famed for his success in beautifying the City of Lights and keeping it whole during the heady days of the 1968 riots. As president in the 1990s and early 2000s, Chirac took controversial steps to privatize the economy and plan the European Union. Chirac seldom pulls punches and in several dramatic chapters describes his opposition to the US invasion of Iraq in 2002 and his personal meetings with George W. Bush. These landmark events are brought into sharp focus in this memoir that the popular French magazine Paris Match said "steals the show" even after its author decamped the presidential palace.
Review
"Jacques Chirac is so alive in these memoirs - whether it's recounting meetings with the great figures of his time or sitting around a dinner table in conversation or fighting it out in the epic political battles of his career. This is a self portrait of a humanist concerned above all with justice, fighting extremism from any political quarter. In page after page, he offers a lucid view on life's big issues." - Les Echos
Review
“Blunt… [a] much anticipated memoir.”-The New York Times
“Jacques Chirac is so alive in these memoirs - whether its recounting meetings with the great figures of his time or sitting around a dinner table in conversation or fighting it out in the epic political battles of his career. This is a self portrait of a humanist concerned above all with justice, fighting extremism from any political quarter. In page after page, he offers a lucid view on lifes big issues.” - Les Echos
“What would the recent history of France be without Chirac?! It would be missing that jovial laughter, an expansive vision, which Chirac never stopped pointing at the world. It would be missing - I dare use the word - class. His memoirs prove that growing old neednt stop one from remaining young and relevant.”— Le Point
“When he speaks, the whole world listens! With his memoirs the former president steals the show even after leaving the presidential palace.” -Paris Match
“[Chirac] crafts tart, vivid critiques of people and policies, including extended attacks on Israeli policy toward the Palestinians and on Bushs rush into the Iraq War… revealing.”—Publishers Weekly
"[A] candid memoir from Frances former two-term president...Chirac offers American readers a close-up portrait of a truly old-school French politician...Citizenship, leadership and service combine in this memoir of a full political life."--Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Jacques Chirac started his in 1950 on the streets of Paris, handing out copies of the communist daily and ended it in 2007 as president of the French Republic. True to his reputation, he comes across as likable, unpretentious, and intelligent."--Foreign Affairs
“Blunt… [a] much anticipated memoir.”-The New York Times
“Jacques Chirac is so alive in these memoirs - whether its recounting meetings with the great figures of his time or sitting around a dinner table in conversation or fighting it out in the epic political battles of his career. This is a self portrait of a humanist concerned above all with justice, fighting extremism from any political quarter. In page after page, he offers a lucid view on lifes big issues.” - Les Echos
“What would the recent history of France be without Chirac?! It would be missing that jovial laughter, an expansive vision, which Chirac never stopped pointing at the world. It would be missing - I dare use the word - class. His memoirs prove that growing old neednt stop one from remaining young and relevant.”— Le Point
“When he speaks, the whole world listens! With his memoirs the former president steals the show even after leaving the presidential palace.” -Paris Match
“[Chirac] crafts tart, vivid critiques of people and policies, including extended attacks on Israeli policy toward the Palestinians and on Bushs rush into the Iraq War… revealing.”—Publishers Weekly
"[A] candid memoir from Frances former two-term president...Chirac offers American readers a close-up portrait of a truly old-school French politician...Citizenship, leadership and service combine in this memoir of a full political life."--Kirkus Reviews
"In this engaging autobiography, Chirac details a life not predestined for politics...His chapter on the Iraq war will be particularly compelling reading for Americans."--Booklist
Review
"Jacques Chirac is so alive in these memoirs - whether it's recounting meetings with the great figures of his time or sitting around a dinner table in conversation or fighting it out in the epic political battles of his career. This is a self portrait of a humanist concerned above all with justice, fighting extremism from any political quarter. In page after page, he offers a lucid view on life's big issues." - Les Echos
Synopsis
"Jacques Chirac started his career in 1950 on the streets of Paris, handing out copies of the communist daily and ended it in 2007 as president of the French Republic. True to his reputation, he comes across as likable, unpretentious, and intelligent." —Foreign Affairs
Synopsis
Two-time president of France, mayor of Paris, and international politician, Jacques Chirac stands with Mikhail Gorbachev, Helmut Kohl, and Margaret Thatcher as one of the most iconic statesmen of the twentieth century. In this revealing and informative memoir, he looks back at his 50 years in politics and some of the twentieth centurys most significant events. He discusses his relationship with Saddam Hussein and other Arab leaders, including serving as confidante to Yasser Arafat during the Camp David peace talks, as well as being Frances point person in the early planning stages for the European Economic Union. And Chirac takes us through the toughest challenge that he faced as president—standing up to George W Bush in the run up to the Iraq War and then deciding to keep Frances army out of the military conflict. As much a tour of the historic events that defined the twentieth century as an intelligent and philosophical meditation on the nature and purpose of power, Jacques Chirac gives us a revealing look at the political forces that shaped the world we live in today—as well as an inside look at a country that holds a perennial fascination for us.
About the Author
Jacques Chirac is a lifelong French politician and one of the most charismatic figures of twentieth century politics. He was president of France from 1995 to 2007. He also served as Prime Minister of France twice in the 1970s and 1980s, and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995. He is best known for being one of the most prominent international opponents of the Bush administration's intention to go to war in Iraq. He also worked to abate nuclear armament, banning the further continuation of nuclear tests in France.