ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses long-term structures of French society and economy – la France profonde. It examines the movements and ideas that challenged fundamental ancien regime assumptions, beliefs and power structures. The book focuses upon the fundamental political and administrative institutions, cultural attitudes and socio-economic structures of French politics and society, some of which would survive, with important modifications, into the twentieth century. It provides a general introduction to ‘La France profonde’ – its geography, its political, financial, socio-economic and cultural institutions and values. The book also presents discernible features for this amorphous social group – representing the majority of the population – as well as to emphasise its increasing importance in the political sphere. Young remarked that, from his observations of Brittany at least, France ‘seemed to have nothing in it but privilege and poverty’.
