The introduction presents and summarises the core themes and approaches that appear throughout the book. It explains what rhetorical analyses can contribute to the field of historical research, including greater insights into the relationships between policy-makers, ‘the public’ and the mass media. It emphasises the significance of the language of policy justification, arguing that the content of official statements and press releases can provide insights into the perceived importance of local and global opinion. In other words, anticipated public reactions to government policies impact how policies are conceptualised. Moreover, it stresses the role that rhetoric plays in shaping identity, legitimacy and power. Specifically, rhetoric played an important part in shaping British–Vichy–Free French relations through arguments over who represented the 'true France' and how Britain fits into the Franco-British relationship.

In addition, the introduction explains how the book is organised, around a series of imperial flashpoints in the Franco-British relationship between 1940 and 1945. It outlines the content of each chapter, clarifying how they fit together and the larger picture that they present.