sun and Mediterranean or Atlantic breezes. The reality is that since World War 11, the French, now 55 million strong, have built one of the Free World's top four industrial powers. Their belated move into the late 20th century has brought both blessings and problems; in parliamentary elec- tions this March, high unemployment (1 1 percent) and other ills may hurt President Francois Mitterrand's Socialists, who in 1981 formed France's first left-wing government in 23 years. Here, John Ardagh looks...