Category Archives: France

Barbara remembered

Posted on December 5, 2017 by

From my albums of the year list: classical pianist Alexandre Tharaud’s ethereal homage to the singer-pianist known simply as Barbara. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of her death. Hindi Zahra, Rokia Traoré, Jane Birkin, Vanessa Paradis and Juliette Binoche … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Music | Tagged ,

Notebook

Posted on September 25, 2017 by

By 1815, memories of the 1790s were fragmented and confused, varying greatly according to the divergent memories of individuals, families and regions. Some of the most famous mythical symbols of the Revolution had yet to be propagated. Building barricades – … Continue reading →

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Notebook

Posted on November 1, 2016 by

The term “national socialism” seems to have been invented by the French nationalist author Maurice Barrès, who described the aristocratic adventurer the Marquis de Morès in 1896 as “the first national socialist”. Morès, after failing as a cattle rancher in … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, France, History, Notebook, Uncategorized, World War 2 | Tagged , , , ,

Bastille Day

Posted on July 14, 2016 by

The birth of a national legend? Simon Schama describes the myth-making  in “Citizens”: No one wanted to be in the Bastille. But once there, life for the more privileged could be made bearable. Alcohol and tobacco were allowed, and under … Continue reading →

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Notebook

Posted on February 13, 2016 by

There had been almost no French military defence of Paris, so there had been no excuse for the Wehrmacht to hesitate in driving right into the prize. But an awkward lull had briefly prevailed. Waiting outside the city on June … Continue reading →

Posted in France, History, World War 2 | Tagged , , , ,

CV

Posted on February 7, 2016 by

Well, any biography of Guy Burgess, spy and man about town, is bound to have some good captions, isn’t it?

Posted in France, History | Tagged ,

Musée d’Orsay

Posted on December 23, 2015 by

A Sunday morning visit, June 2015.

Posted in Art, France, Photography | Tagged ,

Notebook

Posted on December 22, 2015 by

The defining feature of the GIA’s [Groupe Islamiste Armé] war was its ultra-violent methods. The terrorists did not simply kill people but turned the murders into a form of performance or ritual. As in the original War of Independence, throats … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, France, History | Tagged , ,

Cute Carla, bawdy Brassens

Posted on July 15, 2015 by

  A song for Bastille Day. It’s not really the alternative that it jokingly claims to be. Great fun though. I just never thought I’d hear a woman sing it…

Posted in Comedy, France, Music | Tagged , ,

Grand Palais, 1916

Posted on June 5, 2015 by

“The Great Nave: Wounded Soldiers Performing Arms Drill at the End of Their Medical Treatment.” [@metmuseum via @RPanh]

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