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associated with notable flashpoints and interviewing banlieue residents. Although this is in many ways instructive, the words of interviewees cited in this part of the book run the risk of overstating the extent to which radicalism exists in these areas as few moderate voices are cited. The lengthy second part of the book is entitled ‘Algeria, prisoners of love’ and explores the colonial history and legacies that still have an impact on the perceptions that French and Algerian people have of each other, not least due to the brutality and legacy of the Algerian War of 1954–1962. This conflict led to Algeria’s independence from France but was only recognized as a war by the French government in 1999. Hussey identifies many examples of spectacular violence from the colonial period, and also several examples of attacks in 1990s France that were linked to the situation in Algeria. In the next two sections of the book – respectively entitled ‘In Morocco’ and ‘Tunisia, made in France’ – Hussey explores the historical events that have shaped the evolution of two other North African countries that were also formerly French colonies. Although this section of the book describes how positive relations between France and Morocco over the last three decades have helped to boost Morocco’s credibility, it also underlines that this period has been punctuated by a number of terrorist attacks that point towards unresolved tensions in Morocco that at times spill over into Europe. Although Hussey acknowledges that ‘the Tunisian struggle for independence and its aftermath had been much less protracted than in Algeria or Morocco’ (369), he nevertheless details issues such as poverty and human rights abuses that have loomed large in recent decades. In the fifth and final section of the book – entitled ‘Prisoners of War’ – Hussey devotes the closing chapter to examining the ‘them and us’ mentality that at times characterizes relations between prison guards and Muslim prisoners in French jails. Hussey’s writing style is frequently pithy and contributes to the accessibility and readability of his work. His acknowledgement that his book lacks a ‘neat or tidy conclusion’ (394) is perhaps not a matter worthy of criticism given the complexity and unpredictability of the matters he discusses. However, a clearer definition or explanation of some of the more emotive uses of language – including in the book and chapter titles – would not have gone amiss. A more explicit and detailed explanation of the use of the term ‘intifada’ in the title could certainly have helped to strengthen his position and some chapter titles – such as ‘Setting Europe on Fire’ (Chapter 26) – create a somewhat sensationalist tone that masks some of the subtleties that are explored in a largely compelling exploration of France’s past, present and future at a time when it faces many challenges that pose a threat to its national security.