Francia desde la antigüedad hasta nuestros días

The history of France, a permanent miracle, appears more dramatic than that of other countries. Like that of ancient Greece, it has the unique privilege of stirring the passions of nations across the world, to the point that all take part in France's quarrels. The story of Joan of Arc, that of the French kings, of the French Revolution, of the Marne, of the Resistance—all form part of the heritage of the human race.

If England has upheld the imperial and legal tradition of Rome in the modern world, Paris has represented in literature and the arts the role that Athens once played. No nation has as much respect for its language and literature as France does. It has created a language of precision, capable of generating clear thought. From this stems an intellectual empire that extends far beyond its borders. For five centuries, 'everything that was French was universal, and everything that was universal was French.'

The writers of France acted throughout the world as evangelists of Western civilization, while on the European continent, their country served as the military and moral vanguard of freedom. A difficult mission. A vanguard is always in danger, and when the bulk of the troops follows only three years behind, it runs the risk of being overwhelmed. The role of being French was — and will continue to be — dangerous; and for that reason, it is all the more honorable.

(In History of France, by André Maurois [1885–1967])

SEBASTIÁN QUESADA MARCO has a degree in History from the Complutense University of Madrid. Since 1965 he has worked in the service of the promotion and extension of the Spanish language and culture abroad, first as Director of Spanish Cultural Centers dependent on the General Direction of Cultural and Scientific Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, subsequently, as Director of the Cervantes Institutes.

He has directed the Hispano-Arab Institute of Culture of Baghdad and the Cervantes Institutes of Tangier, Lisbon, Milan, Bordeaux and Athens. He has been Coordinator of the Cervantes Institutes in Europe and, within these functions, has been in charge of the management of the Cervantes Institutes of Cairo, Vienna, Milan and Bucharest. He prepared the transformation of the Cervantes Institutes cultural centers of Cairo, Tangier, Tetouan, Lisbon, Vienna, Milan, Bordeaux and Bucharest.

He has been a member of the DELE Advisory Council (Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language) of the Ministry of Education and Science, and the president of numerous DELE courts in various countries (USA, Brazil, Denmark, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Morocco, Bulgaria, Egypt, Romania, Austria).