UPDATED: Book and Website Recommendations
- Manille : Le jeu de cartes préféré des poilus ?Reading the published personal experience accounts of French soldiers in the First World War, I often came across references to a card game, manille. In this post I’ve tried to introduce those who aren’t familiar with the game to what it’s all about and to explain how incredibly popular it was amongst French troops during the war.
- Traces of La Grande Guerre in the Cemeteries of Paris: (2) Meeting the DeadThis is the second part of a two-parter on traces of la Grande Guerre in the cemeteries of Paris. In the first part, it was all about how those vestiges in Paris (but also, indeed, in any French community’s cemetery) have been shaped by people, by the Army and the State and by wealth, influence and status. Now, … Continue reading Traces of La Grande Guerre in the Cemeteries of Paris: (2) Meeting the Dead
- Traces of La Grande Guerre in the Cemeteries of Paris: (1) IntroductionOr, how to give up romantic notions of Paris and move the focus to Death and Loss … In September 2024, I had the opportunity for a stay of almost a week in Paris and, without the need to consider the interests and tastes of anyone else, a chance to take in a range of … Continue reading Traces of La Grande Guerre in the Cemeteries of Paris: (1) Introduction
- « Nécropoles nationales», « Cimetières » and « carrés militaires »Introduction It’s common to see the terms Nécropole nationale, Cimetière militaire and carré militaire used seemingly without any underpinning logic for what the French refer to as lieux de sépultures de militaires français – military burial sites. This post looks at the differences and some of the key characteristics of these places of memory and … Continue reading « Nécropoles nationales», « Cimetières » and « carrés militaires »
- A Marne Morning with le maréchal MaunouryDuring a visit to Paris, I took advantage of the Île-de-France’s extensive public transport network to get out to the eastern suburbs and what were once separate communities. From Noisy-le-Sec to Le Raincy and on to Gagny. (I was thinking that maybe if I wrote nice things about them, they might give me free travel next time. This is, of course, a joke).
Debout les Morts! 