Tiersky examines the three major themes of Mitterrand's presidency-socialism, national reconciliation, and the reconstruction of Europe-and shows that on each count, Mitterrand left a decisive mark.

Part I 1 Winding Path, Contested Itinerary Chapter 1 2 Introduction: France's Most Controversial Politician Chapter 2 3 The Observatory Affair (1959): Mitterrand's Defining Crisis Chapter 3 4 Mitterrand's World War II: Between Pétain and de Gaulle Chapter 4 5 Government and Opposition, 1945 to 1981: Odyssey or Strategy? Part II 6 The Desire to Make History, 1981 to 1995 Chapter 5 7 Socialism Chapter 6 8 Europe Chapter 7 9 Legitimacy and Institutions Part III 10 Credo, Morality, Legacies Chapter 8 11 Machiavellian Republican Chapter 9 12 The Existential Mitterand Chapter 10 13 Mitterrand and the Human Comedy Chapter 11 14 Mitterrand Agonistes: Vichy Yet a Last Time (Fall 1994) Chapter 12 15 Conclusion: Legacies

Ronald Tiersky is the Eastman Professor of Politics at Amherst College.