Meeting on the first Thursday of each month, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, this group has a lot of fun sipping wine, tasting cheese and crackers and taking turns reading out loud in French. Enjoy hearing and sharing the richness of the French language.
October’s meeting is on the 6th and will probably be the last meeting at its summer location at the Burnham Library in Bridgewater (see address below).
SPECIAL NOTE TO NEW PARTICIPANTS: We will probably be starting a new book in November and will need to order it very soon because the copies will be coming from Europe and will take several weeks to arrive.Unlike most of the books we read, this particular one isn’t so easy to obtain from Amazon (the prices vary a lot) however we have found a dealer who is willing to order new copies that cost a little under $12 each, including shipping. Our next selection is “Lutetia” by Pierre Assouline.
Lutetia (2005) raconte une histoire d’amour entre le détective du Lutetia et une amie d’enfance, mais surtout une histoire de la France de 1938 à 1945 à travers l’histoire de l’Hôtel Lutetia qui a, durant toute l’Occupation, servi de siège à l’Abwehr (les services secrets de l’état-major allemand) puis, à la Libération, de lieu d’accueil des déportés et rapatriés.
Description
Tapi dans les recoins les plus secrets du Lutetia, un homme voit l’Europe s’enfoncer dans la guerre mondiale. Édouard Kiefer, Alsacien, ancien flic des RG. Détective chargé de la sécurité de l’hôtel et de ses clients. Discret et intouchable, nul ne sait ce qu’il pense. Dans un Paris vaincu, occupé, humilié, aux heures les plus sombres de la collaboration, cet homme, pourtant, est hanté par une question : jusqu’où peut-on aller sans trahir sa conscience ? De 1938 à 1945, l’hôtel Lutetia – l’unique palace de la rive gauche – partage le destin de la France. Entre ses murs se succèdent, en effet, exilés, écrivains et artistes, puis officiers nazis et trafiquants du marché noir, pour laisser place enfin à la cohorte des déportés de retour des camps. En accordant précision biographique et souffle romanesque, Pierre Assouline redonne vie à la légende perdue du grand hôtel, avec un art du clair-obscur qui convient mieux que tout autre au mythique Lutetia… 462 pages; Paperback; Folio
Une revue du livre:
“I loved this book; it is long; but every page contains a drop of history which we can view through the prism of the Hotel Lutetia. While not exactly a history book, I suppose one could call it a “roman cle” since most of the characters and certainly the principal events described are non-fictional. A beautifully written account of the intrigues (and tragedies) of the German occupation. Think of “Remains of the Day” only this is far more poignant and powerful since the Hotel was the headquarters for the Nationalist Socialist Intelligence Agency and the action unfolds in the heart of Nazi-occupied Paris. Very powerful narrative and an unexpected climax approaching the end of the novel. Please read it. It won’t disappoint.”
If you have any questions, please let Amanda know at lecture@afnwct.org.
AFNWCT Members attend for free; A suggested donation of $5 is requested from others.
Questions or comments? Contact Amanda: lecture@afnwct.org
