The Crisis of Modernity is the most comprehensive introduction to modern and contemporary French culture. Bringing together history, literature, and popular culture, this will be the foundational textbook for courses in French Studies. Each section begins with a chronological narrative, which covers the main historical events of the period as well as the interaction between the arts, literature and everyday life. The second part includes a selection of primary documents in translation, which serve as references and illustrations for the historical narrative. Each document will be thoroughly contextualized and analyzed. Documents include historical, archival texts, poetry and other literary texts, and examples of French popular culture. The result is a comprehensive and innovative volume, which will provide students and general readers with an introduction to modern France