Title: Pierre Laval
Description: History is often written by the victor, but Pierre Laval: Traitor or Patriot? is written by one of the defeated. The author, Rene de Chambrun, wrote about his father-in-law, Pierre Laval, who was a high-ranking official in the Vichy government. Chambrun worked for the Vichy government and was also a Parisian lawyer. He has written several other books about Vichy France. Throughout Chambrun's life, he has been defending the memory of his father-in-law and continues to defend him in Pierre Laval: Traitor or Patriot? The thesis of this book is that Laval was a hero and not a villain as commonly thought (vii). A second thesis, as the author states, is "The case for Laval rests on facts attested to by many of the chief figures in the history of the time, some of the testimony being all the more convincing coming from the mouths of Laval's enemies" (ix). This book reaches its conclusion by reevaluating the evidence of Pierre Laval.

Overall, Pierre Laval: Traitor or Patriot? is an interesting book because it provides a different viewpoint. There are not many books that will portray Laval as a hero, but this book is one of them. Pierre Laval's actions are defended and explained in this work. Chambrun examines various topics and backs his findings with primary sources. This book is a good book for any one who is interested in learning more about the Vichy government in World War II by providing an alternative viewpoint.
Subjects: Politics and government, Prime ministers, Biography
Places: France
People: Pierre Laval (1883-1945)
Time periods: 1914-1940, 1940-1945