I am grateful for the help that I received from a number of institutions and individuals in the preparation of this book. Permission to consult documents was given by the Archives Nationales, the Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, Madame Bidault, Madame Lecompte-Boinet and Madame Demey. I particularly enjoyed my visit to the archives of Henri Queuille in Neuvic d'Ussel where everyone was more than helpful.

Richard Fisher, Peter Morris, Kevin Passmore and an anonymous publisher's reader all gave useful advice and encouragement. Hilary Scannell took great pains, and displayed heroic patience, while copyediting the typescript. Grants to visit France were provided by Trinity College Cambridge, the British Academy, the Twenty Seven foundation and King's College London. Hospitality and companionship in France were provided by David Baker, Dagmar Braun, Joel Felix and Ella Felix-Braun. My parents and my sister have been an endless source of material and emotional support. Most importantly of all, Alison Henwood always reminded me that there is more to life than Fourth Republic politics and usually tolerated me when I failed to heed this wise reminder.

All translations from French language sources are by the author unless otherwise attributed.