Les belles promesses

Pierre Lemaitre

Description

And God Created the French: an incisive, affectionate and wonderfully well-researched guide to Parisians. —Pierre Salinger

A critical book, chock a block with caustic observations and irony. The author has managed to shake us up, gently but without complacency… —Pierre Assouline, RTL Radio

And God Created the French is a clear-sighted and penetrating piece of writing by a true journalist."

—France-Inter Radio

Hailed by critics as a brilliantly insightful snapshot of Parisians and France at the beginning of the 21st century, this bestseller on two continents (over 80,000 copies sold) by journalist Louis-Bernard Robitaille offers readers a detailed look at how French society really works, with its hidden codes, unspoken rules, tribal loyalties and attachment to the past. In particular, he reveals the strange love-hate relationship that the French have with money, which must be spent lavishly but never, ever discussed in public. As well, Robitaille homes in on France's obsessive attraction to all things American, while simultaneously demonizing everything that is… American. And God Created the French is a treasure trove of biting, satirical and relevant articles on just about everything to do with France, from King Louis XIV to Charles de Gaulle and Euro Disneyland, including interviews celebrities the likes of Isabelle Adjani, Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Giroud and Djian. It describes a country of excess and contrasts, where the Wine-and Olive Oil culture of the South constantly challenges the Beer-and-Butter world of the North. France is a country where a monarchist movement remains deeply rooted yet that beheaded a king and whose culture adores classical music but where great composers are few and far between. If you are looking to admire the dizzying heights of the art of brilliant conversation, France awaits. The preface by the late Nouvel Observateur columnist Jean-François Kahn puts it all into perspective.

Louis-Bernard Robitaille covered the Paris beat for more than thirty years for the Montreal daily La Presse newspapers and numerous magazines in various countries. An accomplished novelist, he also knows virtually all the figures that count on the French cultural and political scenes, as well as the not-to-be-neglected strivers. In the course of his lengthy career, he has conducted countless interviews with celebrated men and women in the worlds of politics and the arts and is highly respected by his peers.

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