"You have got to read Histoire secrète de la Ve République," said one of my friends, a lively gossip who is not at all the fanatical political type. "It's full of the most amazing stories."
"It doesn't really sound like my kind of thing," I said doubtfully, having seen the Bible-sized tome all over the bookstores.
"I gave it to Philippe," she said, "and he was like you, he thought it sounded boring. But he left it on his desk and then he couldn't put it down, and took it on his trip to Japan! What's great about it is that you can pick up the book anywhere, you don't have to read it in order. It's a lot of fun. Just try it."
She was right. Anywhere you open it, you will find some scandale or secret you had probably not heard of. I translated this short section which tells how DeGaulle's scientists had to learn how to make an H-bomb from the British. When DeGaulle found this out, "He almost had a stroke."
You're right, it is fascinating (and surprising).
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 24 November 2006 at 23:27
Is this Philippe perchance have the last name of Roger? Since I am familiar with such a person.
From Sedulia: No, I change everyone's name, actually.
Posted by: iluvnewyork | 26 November 2006 at 07:14