The Edge of the Sword and Other Writings, Charles de Gaulle

This volume brings together the fundamental texts of the future General de Gaulle, written before 1940, and evoking his convictions on history, the army, and France.

"There is no illustrious career in arms that has not served a vast policy, nor any great glory of a statesman that has not been gilded by the brilliance of national defense," writes Charles de Gaulle in conclusion to Le Fil de l'épée. Le Fil de l'épée, first published in 1932, is one of his most famous books. Even before he encountered History, the future General de Gaulle developed in it the ideas to which he would remain faithful: on the contingency inherent in all action, on the attitude of the man of character, on the role of prestige in the art of command, or on the relations between politician and soldier. This volume brings together all the historical, military, and philosophical texts written by Charles de Gaulle before the Second World War. It includes his prophetic conceptions on the role of armored vehicles as well as a vision of France that would always be his own and that he would soon illustrate as we know. This volume contains:

- La Discorde chez l'ennemi
- Le fil de l'épée
- Vers l'armée de métier
- La France et son armée
- Trois études
- Articles et écrits
- Mémorandum