In this interesting book on what would usually be an academic subject, the author argues that in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, France's response helped create the idea of a European identity and laid groundwork for European political and economic cooperation. Though the book deals mainly with French national politics, the larger argument will make it appeal to readers interested in international relations, contemporary European history or politics, and American politics and international relations as well (part of the author's thesis is that France stepped into a power vacuum left by America's failure to respond to the oil crisis with policies that would change dependence on oil from the Arab states). What makes the book remarkable is the clarity of its prose. Gfeller, a Swiss National Science Foundation Ambizione research fellow, writes with both scholarly command of her subject and great narrative skill. While her book is technical in its interests, it reads easily and dramatically, and general readers who follow international politics or economics will find it engaging. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)