There are all sorts of clichés about the French, but what actually made them who they are? Read Children of the revolution: the French, 1799-1914 and discover how events from the fall of the Monarchy to World War I shaped this nation and its people. Our history selection offers other interesting items you can borrow. Get to know about the fall Ruin of the Roman Empire, Victorian slums, and how a small fleet put a definitive end to the slave-trade. Is more recent history your thing ? You can learn more about the Italian front during WWI, and you can read about Holocaust survivors’ stories or the peace process in Northern Ireland. And if you are interested in Europe and the Middle-East from 570 to 1215, the influence of the Bush dynasty, and a review of the twentieth century, check out this month History Recent Picks.