A Velvet Empire - (Histories of Economic Life) by David Todd

A Velvet Empire is a groundbreaking new history of French imperialism in the 19th century, revealing how France's elites used soft power to pursue their ambitions after Napoleon's downfall.

This book provides fresh insights into the mechanisms of imperial collaboration that extended France's influence from the Middle East to Latin America and ushered in the modern age of globalization.

Through a cunning strategy of seduction, French elites used conspicuous commodities like champagne and silk textiles, along with loans to client states, to build a "velvet" empire backed by frequent military interventions.

Despite being no less brutal than British imperialism, France's approach offered vast benefits until setbacks around the world brought about its unravelling in the 1870s.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in global history, French culture, and the rise of modern imperialism.