# The English and French — Last and First Men character guide

> The English and French in Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the English, French, English, The French, The English, the French and English, the French

**First appearance:** 0005-ii-the-anglo-french-war

## Who they are

European nations involved in the Anglo-French War and subsequent conflicts.

## In the story

### [I: Balkan Europe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-balkan-europe)

Exemplars of intellectual integrity and founders of physical science, whose influence wanes.

### [The European War and After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-european-war-and-after)

The other side in the conflict, with the English and French representing the Latin-France and Nordic Germany rivalry.

### [II: The Anglo-French War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-anglo-french-war)

The two nations involved in the war, with England's peace gesture and France's response.

### [III: Europe After the Anglo-French War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-europe-after-the-anglo-french-war)

Their cultural influence, though flawed, was essential for tempering European thought; their eclipse marks a turning point.

### [I: Europe and America](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-europe-and-america)

Their cultural influence is weakened after their 'orgy of emotionalism and murder' (the Anglo-French War).

### [III: Europe Murdered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/iii-europe-murdered)

The primary victims of the American gas attack, representing the European spirit that is extinguished.

### [The Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/i-the-rivals)

The Anglo-French war is cited as an example of a nation losing its head and plunging into fear-inspired aggression.

### [The Conflict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/chapters/ii-the-conflict)

The English and French are devastated by the war, with England left uninhabited and France under Chinese military rule.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/characters/the_english_and_french
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/last_and_first_men_se/characters