when the world was far from at ease.

An ideal book for dipping in and out of, this must-read collection is ideal for history buffs looking to uncover the greatest thinkers of an unprecedented period. Jean Giraudoux (1882-1944) was a French literary figure of immense might. A novelist, essayist, diplomat, and playwright, Giraudoux's dominant theme is the relationship between man and woman, or in some cases, between man and some unattainable ideal. He remains today a hugely influential figure within 19th-century literature.