Bart van Loo's comprehensive book is the story of how France became France, and chanson became chanson. The story of French chanson is not limited to history, it also touches on the spiritual component of human life. Perhaps such an old-fashioned activity as reading a book , will help revive the traditions of French chanson, which was declared dead so many times. Perhaps you will remember the slow, drawn-out “Of course” (Évidemment) by France Gall, cheerful summer evenings in the company of Michel Fugen with his “Beautiful History” (Une belle histoire) or Claude François desperately shouting “Alexandrie Alexandra”. Or maybe you, sitting in your car, will cry while listening to “No, I haven’t forgotten anything” (Non, je n’ai rien oublié) by Charles Aznavour.