President and Parliament

I know of no other such history of the presidency in French or English. PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT illuminates a central problem of contemporary France, the unending search for a satisfactory political expression of a basic commitment to democracy. It will be of great interest to all students of contemporary history and politics.
--John C. Cairns, University of Toronto

Derfler has already proved by his earlier works that he is a skillful and thoughtful historian. PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT gives us compact treatment of an important theme, thorough research, and clear style.
--J. Rothney, Ohio State University

Leslie Derfler has written a clear, briskly paced account of the French presidency under the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Republic. The story is an important one, and he carries us admirably through the complexities of French politics, providing incisive political insights and sound biographical detail. This is no mere treatise in constitutional history, but a vivid effort to bring to life the story of executive-legislative relations from the beginnings of the Third Republic down to de Gaulle and his successors. The study is especially informative for the Third Republic, but readers familiar with presidential authority in contemporary France will also be impressed with the subtle analysis of the presidency in French political life today.
--Joel Colton, Duke University