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A Thousand Suns
From Japanese terrorists in the holy land to freedom fighters in fascist Portugal, from spread of Nazism to the liberation of Paris, from Mahatma Gandhi to Mother Teresa. Lapierre delves eloquently into the heart of the history of uour time
466 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
22 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
About the author
Dominique Lapierre
72 books352 followersDominique Lapierre was born in Châtelaillon-Plage, Charente-Maritime, France. At the age of thirteen, he travelled to America with his father who was a diplomat (Consul General of France). He attended the Jesuit school in New Orleans and became a paper boy for the "New Orleans Item". He developed interests in travelling, writing and cars and later traveled across the United States as a young man.
In the early 1950s Lapierre was conscripted into the French army. After one year in a tank regiment, he was transferred to SHAPE headquarters to serve as an interpreter. There he met a young American Army corporal, Larry Collins, a Yale graduate and draftee. They became instant friends. When Collins was discharged he was offered a job with Procter & Gamble. Two days before reporting to work, the United Press offered him a job as caption writer at their Paris office, for much less money than offered by Procter & Gamble. Collins accepted the offer and was soon picked up by Newsweek to be their correspondent in the Middle East. When Lapierre was discharged, he found work as a reporter for the magazine Paris Match. Several years later they decided to join forces to tell a big story which would appeal to both French and anglophone audiences. Their first bestseller Is Paris Burning? sold close to ten million copies in thirty languages. In this book they mixed the modern technique of investigation journalism with the classical methods of historical research.
After that they spent four years in Jerusalem to reconstruct the birth of the State of Israel for the book O Jerusalem!. Lapierre is proud that after spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem he knows each alley, square, street, and building in the Holy City intimately.
Two of Lapierre's books – Is Paris Burning? (co-written with Larry Collins) and City of Joy – have been made into films. Lapierre and Collins wrote several other books together before Collins' death in 2005.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the 2008 Republic Day honors list.
In the early 1950s Lapierre was conscripted into the French army. After one year in a tank regiment, he was transferred to SHAPE headquarters to serve as an interpreter. There he met a young American Army corporal, Larry Collins, a Yale graduate and draftee. They became instant friends. When Collins was discharged he was offered a job with Procter & Gamble. Two days before reporting to work, the United Press offered him a job as caption writer at their Paris office, for much less money than offered by Procter & Gamble. Collins accepted the offer and was soon picked up by Newsweek to be their correspondent in the Middle East. When Lapierre was discharged, he found work as a reporter for the magazine Paris Match. Several years later they decided to join forces to tell a big story which would appeal to both French and anglophone audiences. Their first bestseller Is Paris Burning? sold close to ten million copies in thirty languages. In this book they mixed the modern technique of investigation journalism with the classical methods of historical research.
After that they spent four years in Jerusalem to reconstruct the birth of the State of Israel for the book O Jerusalem!. Lapierre is proud that after spending a great deal of time in Jerusalem he knows each alley, square, street, and building in the Holy City intimately.
Two of Lapierre's books – Is Paris Burning? (co-written with Larry Collins) and City of Joy – have been made into films. Lapierre and Collins wrote several other books together before Collins' death in 2005.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in the 2008 Republic Day honors list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 3, 2013
Dominique Lapierre was one of the twentieth century's most prolific international journalists and a highly prolific author of both novels and historical works, many together with his lifelong coleague Larry Collins.
In this digest he takes us through some of his greatest journeys and encounters with people who shaped the course of events. He includes some of the encounters behind his joint works with Dominique Lapierre, such as his interview with Ehud Avriel, who helped Jews to escape Hitler's infernos to get to the Holy Land, and gathered together arms to help the fledgling State of Israel survive the overwhelming military force of six Arab armies who attacked the tiny state, as soon as the United Nations agreed to partition of Palestine.
He also describes the starvation and misery of Jerusalem's Jewish inhabitants during the siege of that city by Arab armies intent on massacring all of Jerusalem's Jews.
Some of the events described in his article about Avriel, who Lapierre was a good friend of are recorded in O Jerusalem!
He also recounts his interviews with Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was instrumental in negotiating the independence of India and it's aprtition into the two states of India and Pakistan.
Lapierre was with Mountbatten a few days Mountbatten's assassination by IRA terrorists in 1979.
He also recounts his meetings and interviews with the men behind the assasination of Mahatma Ghandi, as result of Gandhi's favorable policies towards India's Moslems.
These events form part of the bakground to Freedom at Midnight.
Lapierre details his relationship with the man who was executed for somebody else's crimes, Caryl Chessman, and Chessman's campaign from prison against the death penalty.
He describes the refusal by General Dieter Von Choltitz refusal to obey Hitler's orders to completley destroy Paris but ignores the evidence that Von Choltitz had been involved in the massacre of Jews in Russia.
He also writes of his interview with the evil terrorist murderer Kozo Okamoto from the Japanese Red Army Faction, who together with two other psychopathic Communist terrorists murdered 26 Puerto Rican pilgrims in 1972.Interesting that even then those hellbent on murder and destruction chose Israel as their first target for butchery.
But the world made a lot more sense then, as most the world reviled these horrible terrorists acts, unlike the macabre Orwellian nightmare we are living through today, were so much of the world supports terror against the tiny nation of Israel.
Interesting even that the first t
He also writes of his encounters with the great conservationist Rafael Matta in the Ivory Coast, and the authoir's first car and how he acquired the foal of a prize horse in San Tropez France, by the name of Preferido.
Most touching is Lapierre's recounting of work in Calcutta, which the author was involved in with Indian leper and other orphan children
Lapierre donates half of his royalties to the foundation set up to save these children
It is heartbreaking to read of their plight and uplifting to read of their joy in life despite their suffering and death all around them. You can read more about these poignant and heartrending accounts in The City of Joy
"behind every cloud" as the author recounts "there are a thousand clouds."
Overall a fascinating and exciting read.
In this digest he takes us through some of his greatest journeys and encounters with people who shaped the course of events. He includes some of the encounters behind his joint works with Dominique Lapierre, such as his interview with Ehud Avriel, who helped Jews to escape Hitler's infernos to get to the Holy Land, and gathered together arms to help the fledgling State of Israel survive the overwhelming military force of six Arab armies who attacked the tiny state, as soon as the United Nations agreed to partition of Palestine.
He also describes the starvation and misery of Jerusalem's Jewish inhabitants during the siege of that city by Arab armies intent on massacring all of Jerusalem's Jews.
Some of the events described in his article about Avriel, who Lapierre was a good friend of are recorded in O Jerusalem!
He also recounts his interviews with Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was instrumental in negotiating the independence of India and it's aprtition into the two states of India and Pakistan.
Lapierre was with Mountbatten a few days Mountbatten's assassination by IRA terrorists in 1979.
He also recounts his meetings and interviews with the men behind the assasination of Mahatma Ghandi, as result of Gandhi's favorable policies towards India's Moslems.
These events form part of the bakground to Freedom at Midnight.
Lapierre details his relationship with the man who was executed for somebody else's crimes, Caryl Chessman, and Chessman's campaign from prison against the death penalty.
He describes the refusal by General Dieter Von Choltitz refusal to obey Hitler's orders to completley destroy Paris but ignores the evidence that Von Choltitz had been involved in the massacre of Jews in Russia.
He also writes of his interview with the evil terrorist murderer Kozo Okamoto from the Japanese Red Army Faction, who together with two other psychopathic Communist terrorists murdered 26 Puerto Rican pilgrims in 1972.Interesting that even then those hellbent on murder and destruction chose Israel as their first target for butchery.
But the world made a lot more sense then, as most the world reviled these horrible terrorists acts, unlike the macabre Orwellian nightmare we are living through today, were so much of the world supports terror against the tiny nation of Israel.
Interesting even that the first t
He also writes of his encounters with the great conservationist Rafael Matta in the Ivory Coast, and the authoir's first car and how he acquired the foal of a prize horse in San Tropez France, by the name of Preferido.
Most touching is Lapierre's recounting of work in Calcutta, which the author was involved in with Indian leper and other orphan children
Lapierre donates half of his royalties to the foundation set up to save these children
It is heartbreaking to read of their plight and uplifting to read of their joy in life despite their suffering and death all around them. You can read more about these poignant and heartrending accounts in The City of Joy
"behind every cloud" as the author recounts "there are a thousand clouds."
Overall a fascinating and exciting read.
May 13, 2016
The books is so well-written that you feel you are experiencing the events with your own eyes. This is the second book I read by Dominique Lapierre (first being O Jerusalem) and I am hooked to his style of writing about historical events. My favorite sections of the book were stories on the Portuguese pirate; Spanish matador 'El Cordobés' and Caryl Chessman. The books evokes a sense of history and its continuity to the present day. Very real yet poetic way to relive history and the lessons learned. My interest in political history has been rekindled and I will be reading all the books written by this author for sure.
Only reason, I didn't give 5 stars are the writer's stories on the slums in Calcutta. The stories are true and very well-written but have slight hints of the famous 'The White Man's Burden' analogy.
Only reason, I didn't give 5 stars are the writer's stories on the slums in Calcutta. The stories are true and very well-written but have slight hints of the famous 'The White Man's Burden' analogy.
June 22, 2023
Excelente libro, gracias a personas como este escritor el mundo mejora un poco, …una gota en el océano….
November 12, 2013
This is a series of essays about divergent topics the author is passionate about from travel and cars, to terrorism, to poverty in India. It is like a selected and personal tour of 20th Century history. It is especially interesting because it is written by a Frenchman from a non-American (not anti-American) point of view.
July 28, 2011
Wow ... fascinating and engaging ... A really human side of major historical events of our times such as the rise of Nazism, fall of the Iron Curtain and decline of Colonialism, even the death penalty ... all encounters told with a spirit so large ... it took my breath away!
May 17, 2013
Vi siete mai chiesti come sono nati, quali sono stati gli incipit dei romanzi di Dominique Lapierre? Questo libro vi risponde e vi svela i retroscena divertenti, surreali, forti, inaspettati di molti suoi capolavori.
Un libro indispensabile per chi ama questo scrittore.
Un libro indispensabile per chi ama questo scrittore.
September 12, 2012
Letto sulla scia di Città della gioia, ha confermato la sensibilità dell'Autore nella descizione del mondo dei diseredati e dei dimenticati sulla Terra.
February 17, 2026
Es como una autobiografía de Dominique Lapierre, como una línea de tiempo de las historias que ha escrito y que lo cambiaron.
"La pena de muerte sólo da miedo a los hombres honrados. ¡A los otros no!"
Y si las historias de Lapierre te gusta, como a mí que me encantan, que cada vez que pierdo la fe o las ganas de leer, agarro un libro de su autoría, y sin sanseacabó, porque vuelvo y me dan ganas de decir a viva voz: "¡Así es que se deberían escribir las historias."
"Aunque la adversidad sea grande -como decía el gran poeta bengalí Tagore- el hombre es aún más grande que la adversidad."
Las historias detrás de las historias. El detrás de cámaras de cómo se enamoró de un tema, de un sitio, de un personaje, y junto a Larry Collins, su amigo y compañero de escritura, o cuando escribía solo, aquí, en Mil soles, es la oportunidad de entender mejor, si dudas te quedaban o lagrimas te sobraban.
"Pero Dios parecía haber olvidado la sala de llegada del aeropuerto de Lod."
No me he leído todo de Lapierre. Y me dio una lástima tremenda porque me perdí lo bello que es verle las costuras a las historias, y al mismo tiempo me dio una alegría tremenda, porque tengo la fortuna de tener 3 a 4 libros que pintan que la historia es brutal.
"Okomoto: "verdadero momento de éxtasis durante los cuales cada uno de nosotros podía meditar como un poeta haku sobre el carácter efímero de la vida de las mariposas."
Es como leer historia y filosofía revuelto con chisme. No hay nada mejor. Bueno, estar ahí en el momento de los hechos, pero seguro algunos no los soportaríamos.
"En Yalta, una anciana llegó a implorarnos que deshincháramos un neumático "para respirar el aire de París". Radio Moscú había anunciado nuestra expedición y nos esperaban por doquier en una ambiente febril."
Un libro que muestra por qué las historias de Dominique Lapierre fueron escritas como con el dedo de la inspiración. Tal vez lo único que había, y fue suficiente, era un ser humano honesto, profesional y muy buena persona, escuchando y tomando nota. Con eso fue capaz de escribir historias que no te dejan que las abandones. Y cuando terminan, quedas mal, porque la historia humana es de por sí un mar de lagrimas, y a la vez, quedas a la vez muy bien, como liviano. Sabiendo de historia y un poquito de humanidad.
"La pena de muerte sólo da miedo a los hombres honrados. ¡A los otros no!"
Y si las historias de Lapierre te gusta, como a mí que me encantan, que cada vez que pierdo la fe o las ganas de leer, agarro un libro de su autoría, y sin sanseacabó, porque vuelvo y me dan ganas de decir a viva voz: "¡Así es que se deberían escribir las historias."
"Aunque la adversidad sea grande -como decía el gran poeta bengalí Tagore- el hombre es aún más grande que la adversidad."
Las historias detrás de las historias. El detrás de cámaras de cómo se enamoró de un tema, de un sitio, de un personaje, y junto a Larry Collins, su amigo y compañero de escritura, o cuando escribía solo, aquí, en Mil soles, es la oportunidad de entender mejor, si dudas te quedaban o lagrimas te sobraban.
"Pero Dios parecía haber olvidado la sala de llegada del aeropuerto de Lod."
No me he leído todo de Lapierre. Y me dio una lástima tremenda porque me perdí lo bello que es verle las costuras a las historias, y al mismo tiempo me dio una alegría tremenda, porque tengo la fortuna de tener 3 a 4 libros que pintan que la historia es brutal.
"Okomoto: "verdadero momento de éxtasis durante los cuales cada uno de nosotros podía meditar como un poeta haku sobre el carácter efímero de la vida de las mariposas."
Es como leer historia y filosofía revuelto con chisme. No hay nada mejor. Bueno, estar ahí en el momento de los hechos, pero seguro algunos no los soportaríamos.
"En Yalta, una anciana llegó a implorarnos que deshincháramos un neumático "para respirar el aire de París". Radio Moscú había anunciado nuestra expedición y nos esperaban por doquier en una ambiente febril."
Un libro que muestra por qué las historias de Dominique Lapierre fueron escritas como con el dedo de la inspiración. Tal vez lo único que había, y fue suficiente, era un ser humano honesto, profesional y muy buena persona, escuchando y tomando nota. Con eso fue capaz de escribir historias que no te dejan que las abandones. Y cuando terminan, quedas mal, porque la historia humana es de por sí un mar de lagrimas, y a la vez, quedas a la vez muy bien, como liviano. Sabiendo de historia y un poquito de humanidad.
September 8, 2025
En este libro autobiográfico,el cosmopolita Dominique explica temas que investigó en sus libros y artículos,y sus viajes,ya que es aficionado a rehabilitar coches y recorrer con ellos grandes distancias.Es un magnífico escritor y lo que más me ha gustado es que transmite fe en la bondad humana y la superación de las dificultades.Me ha llamado la atención la descripción del cordobés como un ricacho reggaetonero,el extraño caso del japonés terrorista y las complejas historias que rodean la creación del estado de Israel ya desde sus inicios.La parte final refleja su amor por la India y su implicación,y cómo India le correspondió su devoción.También me ha encantado su retrato de la guerra en su infancia en París y su cariño por Larry Collins,su compañero escritor y amigo. Me ha hecho revisitar sus libros.
January 26, 2021
Some of the stories were enthralling some not so much especially the first few chapters. It’s a good read but in my view not on par with the rest ie City of Joy, Freedom at midnight etc. Having said that if you are a fan of the author then you must read it.
November 18, 2017
Dominique Lapierre talks about his life, mostly in the context of the books he has written and places he has visited for their research.
January 6, 2020
A messy rehash of older writings. What is the point? Is it a biography for Lapierre or for the century? And why this selection and not another?
August 9, 2022
Some of th experiences lived by the jornalist Dominique Lapierre. Nice.
June 3, 2024
Amazing read. Very touching. Inspires one to love every one around you.
August 24, 2024
Entusiasmante la vita di Dominique Lapierre , la qualche culmina con il suo impegno nell’aiuto ai fragili.
January 24, 2026
Da questa serie incredibile di racconti e aneddoti personali, emerge la certezza che Dominique Lapierre abbia vissuto mille vite. Wow, che invidia!
July 28, 2014
I never liked History. actually failed in exams. Although i do have a hunger for knowledge and informations, it is hard for me to understand and retain the historical facts. If you are like me, I am sure you will like this book immensely. Some books entertain us, a few enthrall us, but this book leaves you speechless. It made me so curious about all the books the author has written. He has narrated his experiences while researching for the books in such lucid and enthralling language that I cannot wait to read those books and get some knowledge of the world we live in. His narration about the book City of joy made me cry. beyond amazing!
June 1, 2012
Simplemente quedé completamente conmovido por todas las aventuras que Dominique Lapierre ha vivido y todos los personajes con los que se ha codeado a lo largo de su carrera como periodista es realmente admirable.
También me hizo comprender de que al igual que hay personas mezquinas y crueles en este mundo que sólo les interesa el poder y el dinero, también hay personas nobles que luchan hasta el fin por una causa distinta y esa causa es, hacer al hombre más humano y consciente de su alrededor para poder mejorar este mundo.
También me hizo comprender de que al igual que hay personas mezquinas y crueles en este mundo que sólo les interesa el poder y el dinero, también hay personas nobles que luchan hasta el fin por una causa distinta y esa causa es, hacer al hombre más humano y consciente de su alrededor para poder mejorar este mundo.
September 28, 2016
Chapters divisions of stories of Lapierre's investigative reporting and gathering info for books. Some of the stories: Caryl Chessman awaiting execution on death row in San Quentin; General Dietrich von Choltitz and his part in saving Paris at the end of WWII; Gandhi and Lord Mountbatten ending England's colonization of India, and Mother Teresa and others' struggles to help the poor of India. This book has led me forward to 3 or 4 others books on different subjects covered that I want to read.
August 9, 2011
Gracias, gran Dominique, por recordarme por qué me hice periodista. Ese gusto por las buenas historias, ese ingenio para lograr la exclusiva o conseguir la entrevista imposible, ese desmedido afán por conocerlo todo, por sumergirse, por contarlo... India, el Cordobés, la liberación de París, Calcuta... Junto a Larry Collins firmó algunas de las páginas más memorables de la historia moderna. Este libro es algo así como el "making of". Un auténico deleite.
March 2, 2011
Truly amazing that this journalist actually lived as much history as he did, meeting everyone from Golda Meir to the Dalai Lama. Really well written and interesting reading, even some of the stories I'd never heard about - the death row inmate interviews at the beginning of the book were pretty compelling.
October 21, 2016
È il secondo dell'autore che leggo, ed è eccellente. La vita vissuta da lui, descritta da lui è qualcosa di meraviglioso. Qui, ci racconta diverse faccende, alcune in cui c'entra quella che forse è il suo capolavoro che ho letto mesi fa, "La città della gioia". Dalla vita di "El Cordobes", il famoso torero spagnolo all'inchiesta per il libro sull'indipendenza dell'India, ogni capitolo è stupendo.
partially-read
November 9, 2009Borrowed it from H12 Library, or from someone in H12 (KC? who in turn got it from H12 Library).
It's a collection of real stories of some extraordinary incidents. Don't remember if I read it completely.
It's a collection of real stories of some extraordinary incidents. Don't remember if I read it completely.
March 30, 2023
Documentos sobre la materia prima de las investigaciones de dominio y la pierna y sus diferentes libros su vida y las experiencias que lo llevaron a escribir sobre la India es documentado en hechos reales es interesante un poco denso de leer pero es
July 28, 2007
What a life!His glory days i guess...just to play that role and record history firsthand...one life i envy!
February 1, 2008
Another great history book...made me want to travel and see the world!
April 3, 2009
It was good, but leaned just a little on the side of self-aggrandizement. I really like him as an author, but don't really like to hear him list off his accomplishments.
May 4, 2013
What an incredible life Dominique Lapierre has had. So full of adventure, excitement and fulfilment. I couldn't stop reading. I had to know what he did next.
November 28, 2016
The book that got me into reading history in my high school.
January 8, 2015
an exquisite read. a beautiful account of an accomplished life. must to read again!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews