2005 Leon Blum: Humanist in Politics, by Joel Colton (read 24 May 1986) This is a most absorbing and worthwhile book. Written in 1965 by a Duke University professor, I found it an entrancing work, which fit well into my study of modern French history. Blum was always a socialist, but believed in many socialist theories only in the abstract. He was born Apr 9, 1872, in Paris and died Mar 30, 1950. He had a life which saw him close to all those astounding things in modern French history: the Dreyfus Affair, the first World War, the fantastic years leading to the second World War, the defeat of 1940, Vichy, the revival of France in the years after Liberation. He was the first Socialist premier of France from June 4, 1936 to June 21, 1937, when he brought in the French New Deal. He also was premier from Mar 13, 1938 to April 8, 1938, and from Dec 16, 1946, to Jan 17, 1947. This has been a most worthwhile book and I only hope I remember what I read. ( )