France today remains in crisis. High unemployment, an archaic economic system, a self-selecting governing class unable to handle serious problems, and a debilitating nostalgia for things past have created a nation less able than ever to fulfill its role as a world leader. The economic crisis and the European Union's ongoing fiscal instability, as well as a parade of scandals at the top, have left it weaker than ever into the second decade of the new century. In this book, Jonathan Fenby lovingly but candidly offers an unvarnished picture of modern France, setting it in the context of its glorious past. He explores the problems and the challenges that it faces, as well as the opportunities that lie ahead. Filled with contemporary and historical anecdotes, France on the Brink depicts the many contradictory aspects of the country that so many people love to hate. This eye-opening look at the world's most complex, seductive, and sometimes infuriating country will give even the most knowledgeable Francophile plenty to think about.