Arab France - by Ian Coller (Paperback)

About the Book

"Ian Coller's fascinating book explores the making of modern France during the Napoleonic period and under the Restoration 'from the outside inward'. He examines the life of Arab migrants in France: their role as outsiders, and victims, but also as participants in the creation of the modern nation and its empire. In the process he also throws much light on the history of the contemporary Arab Middle East and North Africa."--C.A. Bayly, University of Cambridge

Book Synopsis

Many think of Muslims in Europe as a twentieth century phenomenon, but this book brings to life a lost community of Arabs who lived through war, revolution, and empire in early nineteenth century France. Ian Coller uncovers the surprising story of the several hundred men, women, and children-Egyptians, Syrians, Greeks, and others-who followed the French army back home after Napoleon's occupation of Egypt. Based on research in neglected archives, on the rediscovery of forgotten Franco-Arab authors, and on a diverse collection of visual materials, the book builds a rich picture of the first Arab France-its birth, rise, and sudden decline in the age of colonial expansion. As he excavates a community that was nearly erased from the historical record, Coller offers a new account of France itself in this pivotal period, one that transcends the binary framework through which we too often view history by revealing the deep roots of exchange between Europe and the Muslim world, and showing how Arab France was in fact integral to the dawn of modernity.

From the Back Cover

Ian Coller's fascinating book explores the making of modern France during the Napoleonic period and under the Restoration 'from the outside inward'. He examines the life of Arab migrants in France: their role as outsiders, and victims, but also as participants in the creation of the modern nation and its empire. In the process he also throws much light on the history of the contemporary Arab Middle East and North Africa.--C.A. Bayly, University of Cambridge

Review Quotes

"An ambitious book. . . . Engaging and important."--Naomi Davidson "Journal Of Modern History" (6/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

"An important and original book that will be of interest to scholars as well as to curious, nonspecialist readers."--Nadia Kiwan "French Studies" (4/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

"Recommended."--D. A. Harvey "Choice" (6/29/2011 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Ian Coller is a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Historical Studies at the University of Melbourne.