This recently published history of contemporary Poland by the outstanding French historian Henry Rollet deserves careful attention both for its grasp of the subject and its discussion concerning nationalism in general and Jewish nationalism in particular. Until recently, Poland did not arouse much interest among Western historians. Western studies in this area have usually been, and continue to be, the work of Polish scholars working in England or the USA. More has been written in Germany, but the Germans have a long tradition of studying Poland and Central Europe. It is surprising, particularly in the light of the long-standing tradition of friendship between the two nations, that Polish affairs are least known in France: the list of French titles on this subject is less than brief.

However, in the last few decades, history has become more international in scope. The boundaries of state and nation have been felt as ever more restricting; historical analysis has increasingly been seen as a necessary point of departure for comparison, while historians are more likely to plunge into terrain unknown in their own countries. In the case of Poland, specific impulses seem to come into play, above all the interest aroused by the ‘Polish October’ of 1956 and the challenge posed to the Soviet system by Solidarity.

Henry Rollet's magnum opus is the first French study of contemporary Poland - strange though this may seem. Rollet's interest in Poland dates back to the Thirties, when he was studying at the School of Eastern Languages in Paris, and has remained with him throughout his life as a diplomat, twice posted in Poland (among other countries) before and after the war. His book is based on a broad field of knowledge and the bibliography of works referred to is extensive. Polish publications dominate, but there are many in German, English and French. Journalistic material has been painstakingly gathered and it is to the author's credit that he has included a range of publications such as Zeszyty Historyczne, Kultura and Aneks. He makes interesting use of intelligence reports by French diplomats and has also drawn attention to material used too rarely by historians - namely, literature. However, economie and sociological studies are poorly represented.