“There never was in France such a display of magnificence and “courtliness” as during the last years of the reign of Henri II” writes Madame de Lafayette in her historical novel La Princesse de Clèves. This is one of the reasons to go and see the new show “L’Art de la fête à la cour des Valois” (Festivities at the court … Read More
Cameroun is celebrated twice this week at l’Odéon and at Quai Branly
This week marks a double success for Cameroun, the large country in Central Africa, which is home to Djaïli Amadou Amal, the writer (in French) of “Les Impatientes”, winner of Prix Goncourt des Lycées in 2020 and Ambassador for UNICEF since. She has been named Writer of the Year 2021 by Trophées de l’Edition, and a ceremony at Théâtre de l’Odéon … Read More
At Chantilly, Orientalism and a new administrator, Anne Miller
This year should be very festive for Château de Chantilly where a new administrator, Anne Miller, has just been named and the 200 th anniversary of Duc d’Aumale’s birth is being celebrated with two exhibitions of drawings and rare Arab manuscripts under one title “Le Duc d’Aumale and Algeria“. A show of Ingres drawings curated by Nicole Garnier, will open … Read More
Books on films, Films on books, Paris has never been more ebullient.
The publication of one of Nicolas d’Estienne d’Orves‘s book is always a fun and trendy event since 2001 when the hero of his first book was a cannibal. This time, “Ce que l’on sait de Max Toppard” (what we know of Max Toppard), was launched at le Grand Rex, a mythical movie theatre on the Grands boulevards, which also has … Read More
At Bibliothèque Mazarine, Piranesi and Desmazières have a ball
I took a friend, who is a true Parisian, to the opening of Piranesi, Albert Decaris, and Erik Desmazières‘s exhibition at Bibliothèque Mazarine and Bibliothèque de l’Institut and he was mesmerized by the beauty of the library. At 70 he had never visited it. And this is true of many French people who have no idea that one of the prettiest … Read More
“The Second Half” of life by photographer Ellen Warner
Ellen Warner is a photographer who one day started asking questions to her models: do you prefer your life before fifty or after? and she was surprised to find out that most women preferred the second half with more experience and more “letting go”. “In the second half you know who you are, and you are liberated by not caring … Read More
In London, great excitement makes up for train disruptions
Spending the week end in London was utterly exciting after a three year gap and I was lucky to see both Beatrix Potter‘s show at the V&A and “The Collaboration“, a play featuring Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat at the Young Vic, the best of English acting! I also loved going to Dulwich to visit my goddaughter’s new house … Read More
Saint Exupéry’s “Le Petit Prince”, lands at MAD at last
Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry (1940-1944), is the book most translated in the world after the Bible. Over a 140 millon copies have been sold in 301 languages and dialects. An encounter with his young hero is organized at MAD, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, with over 600 books, photographs, drawings and letters featuring Saint Ex’ airplanes, books … Read More