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Modern France: A Very Short Introduction argues that modern France, as both a world stage and a global crossroads, is an essential actor in the development of contemporary culture. Indeed, French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents, and more people still visit France than anywhere else in the world. French fashion continues to dominate haute couture and, at the same time, French people are at the forefront of international ‘style’, which was as true in the first half of the twentieth century as it is today. This tension between ‘Frenchness’ as both particular and transnational remains one of the most compelling qualities of the culture.Less

Modern Japan: A Very Short Introduction aims to explode the myths and explore the reality of modern Japan by considering its history, economy, politics, and culture. Japan is arguably today's most successful industrial economy, combining almost unprecedented affluence with social stability and apparent harmony. Japanese goods and cultural products are consumed all over the world, ranging from animated movies and computer games all the way through to cars, semiconductors, and management techniques. In many ways, Japan is an icon of the modern world, and yet it remains something of an enigma to many.Less

Twentieth-Century Britain: A Very Short Introduction examines the forces of consensus and conflict in twentieth-century Britain. This VSI covers the trauma of the First World War and the social divisions of the twenties; fierce domestic and foreign policy debates in the thirties; the impact of the Second World War for domestic transformation, popular culture and the loss of empire; the transition from the turmoil of the seventies to the aftermath of Thatcherism and the advent of New Labour. The profound tension that shook the United Kingdom is juxtaposed against equally deep forces for stability, cohesion, and a sense of historic identity.Less