This biography investigates how Charles de Gaulle transformed from a relatively obscure military officer into the defining figure of twentieth-century French politics. Julian Jackson, a professor of history, utilizes extensive archival research and personal correspondence to analyze the complex interplay between de Gaulle's personal ideology and the shifting geopolitical landscape of Europe. The work argues that de Gaulle's legacy is defined by his persistent, often contradictory, efforts to restore French national grandeur through both military resistance and constitutional reform.

Historians and critics frequently cite this work as the definitive modern biography of the French leader due to its meticulous research and balanced perspective. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a thorough examination of French political structures for those interested in European history.