Strange Defeat by Marc Bloch

"Strange Defeat" is a wartime memoir written by a French historian who served as a soldier during World War II. In the book, the author critically analyzes the reasons behind the swift and shocking fall of France to Germany in 1940. The author attributes the defeat to the outdated strategies and poor leadership of the French military and government, and also highlights the social and political issues that plagued France at the time. The book is not only a personal account but also a profound critique of French society and its institutions.

The 2647th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 138

Since this book was first published in 1946, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 138.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.