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The Free Frenchman
Book by Read, Piers Paul
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
10 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Piers Paul Read
41 books145 followersBritish novelist and non-fiction writer. Educated at the Benedictines' Ampleforth College, and subsequently entered St John's College, University of Cambridge where he received his BA and MA (history). Artist-in-Residence at the Ford Foundation in Berlin (1963-4), Harkness Fellow, Commonwealth Fund, New York (1967-8), member of the Council of the Institute of Contemporary Arts (1971-5), member of the Literature Panel at the Arts Council, (1975-7), and Adjunct Professor of Writing, Columbia University, New York (1980). From 1992-7 he was Chairman of the Catholic Writers' Guild. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL).
His most well-known work is the non-fiction Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (1974), an account of the aftermath of a plane crash in the Andes, later adapted as a film.
His most well-known work is the non-fiction Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (1974), an account of the aftermath of a plane crash in the Andes, later adapted as a film.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 30, 2016
My life can get back to normal, now. I finished reading, The Free Frenchman by Piers Paul Read. I normally read about 8-10 books, at a time. Some I have to, i.e., I was given them to review, some I am required to read for Lay Dominican Study Group. I also belong to two reading groups, so there's two books I also have to read. But there's always one or two that are recommended by friends and I am seduced.
The Free Frenchman fell into my lap, while I was sorting books for my town's library book sale. Once a month the library has a book sale. I volunteer to help sort the books into some sort of order. (Not that I have any selfish motive for volunteering. Perish the thought.)
I read Alive by Piers Paul Read and was riveted by the author's narration. I also read Monk Dawson by the same author. So the novel interested me because I knew it would be a good read.
However, I was almost turned off by Read's simplistic depiction of Dominican history. Being a Lay Dominican I was offended by Piers Paul Read's specious history of the role the Order of Preachers' played during the Middle Ages. (Secret police of the Catholic Church--I admire the author's imagination!) I know there were bad Dominicans and very bad Dominicans, but they don't define my family. It was just that Read only told his readers the bad stuff. He should have had Dominique enter the Dominicans, as a penance, to make up for his one-sided depiction.
Oddly, I didn't mind that Antoine Dubec was a Dominican friar. I kind of liked the man. He certainly was committed to his interpretation of Christian social justice and was willing to risk his life for it--and more. He broke the Seal of Confession. He's in hell.
Anyway, as I was saying, I was reading a chapter or so from each of my tower of books, until The Free Frenchman hooked me. I had no idea of the machinations behind the German occupation of France. It was riveting. From page 100-584, I only had eyes for The Free Frenchman. My tower of books collected dust. I stayed up too late reading. I ignored my blog. I was too involved with Bertrand de Roujay. I admired him. I was shocked by his immoral behavior. I was nervous he'd get caught. I was saddened when Madeleine was unfaithful, and Jenny, too. How could he ever trust another woman? And then he himself... And he used Lucia--how could he! And how many times can a man die?
So the hero is human;that's true. The story rings true. The history is convoluted but true. The de Roujay family itself branches out in three different directions to fight for France. More than that if you count ex-wives and lovers. What a story!
Who wins? "In a war it is always the devil who wins." Spoken by Edmond de Roujay to his sobbing grandson Thierry. Those who are traitors become heroes, and vice versa. History is written by the winners.
But miracles do abound, thanks to a praying grandmother--Alice de Roujay. She holds the family together with her prayers. Her little part of the world is a sanctuary. I always felt relieved when all the characters were at Saint Theodore, with her. "The world outside...was the principality of satan, and it was impossible to live in it without giving the devil his due." Actually, these expressed thoughts are Bertrand de Roujay's about his sister's convent, but I thought they fitted Saint Theodore.
France was a nightmare in WWII. The author proved by his story that morality is relative. Everyone claims they are on the side of God. Foolishness! How wretched the illusions of those who imagined that it could ever be right to kill for Christ. How mistaken the example of the crusaders; for evil could only be answered with evil, the bombardment of London with the obliteration of Berlin. God took no sides in wars, because as Christ himself had said, his kingdom was not of this world, and no legions of angels were ever summoned to battle for His cause. p. 565 Bertrand de Roujay's thoughts in prison.
I loved the book. I learned a lot of French history. I learned how weak human nature is. I learned how noble humans can be. Although I found myself depressed, when I finished the novel. But I'll attribute that for wanting more. Piers Paul Read gives us much to chew on.
The Free Frenchman fell into my lap, while I was sorting books for my town's library book sale. Once a month the library has a book sale. I volunteer to help sort the books into some sort of order. (Not that I have any selfish motive for volunteering. Perish the thought.)
I read Alive by Piers Paul Read and was riveted by the author's narration. I also read Monk Dawson by the same author. So the novel interested me because I knew it would be a good read.
However, I was almost turned off by Read's simplistic depiction of Dominican history. Being a Lay Dominican I was offended by Piers Paul Read's specious history of the role the Order of Preachers' played during the Middle Ages. (Secret police of the Catholic Church--I admire the author's imagination!) I know there were bad Dominicans and very bad Dominicans, but they don't define my family. It was just that Read only told his readers the bad stuff. He should have had Dominique enter the Dominicans, as a penance, to make up for his one-sided depiction.
Oddly, I didn't mind that Antoine Dubec was a Dominican friar. I kind of liked the man. He certainly was committed to his interpretation of Christian social justice and was willing to risk his life for it--and more. He broke the Seal of Confession. He's in hell.
Anyway, as I was saying, I was reading a chapter or so from each of my tower of books, until The Free Frenchman hooked me. I had no idea of the machinations behind the German occupation of France. It was riveting. From page 100-584, I only had eyes for The Free Frenchman. My tower of books collected dust. I stayed up too late reading. I ignored my blog. I was too involved with Bertrand de Roujay. I admired him. I was shocked by his immoral behavior. I was nervous he'd get caught. I was saddened when Madeleine was unfaithful, and Jenny, too. How could he ever trust another woman? And then he himself... And he used Lucia--how could he! And how many times can a man die?
So the hero is human;that's true. The story rings true. The history is convoluted but true. The de Roujay family itself branches out in three different directions to fight for France. More than that if you count ex-wives and lovers. What a story!
Who wins? "In a war it is always the devil who wins." Spoken by Edmond de Roujay to his sobbing grandson Thierry. Those who are traitors become heroes, and vice versa. History is written by the winners.
But miracles do abound, thanks to a praying grandmother--Alice de Roujay. She holds the family together with her prayers. Her little part of the world is a sanctuary. I always felt relieved when all the characters were at Saint Theodore, with her. "The world outside...was the principality of satan, and it was impossible to live in it without giving the devil his due." Actually, these expressed thoughts are Bertrand de Roujay's about his sister's convent, but I thought they fitted Saint Theodore.
France was a nightmare in WWII. The author proved by his story that morality is relative. Everyone claims they are on the side of God. Foolishness! How wretched the illusions of those who imagined that it could ever be right to kill for Christ. How mistaken the example of the crusaders; for evil could only be answered with evil, the bombardment of London with the obliteration of Berlin. God took no sides in wars, because as Christ himself had said, his kingdom was not of this world, and no legions of angels were ever summoned to battle for His cause. p. 565 Bertrand de Roujay's thoughts in prison.
I loved the book. I learned a lot of French history. I learned how weak human nature is. I learned how noble humans can be. Although I found myself depressed, when I finished the novel. But I'll attribute that for wanting more. Piers Paul Read gives us much to chew on.
December 16, 2016
As I first began reading I thought, wow, I've found an historically accurate, thoughtful as well as action-filled, well-written book concerning a subject in which I have a keen interest. And that remained true almost until the end, because each time I put it down I could hardly wait to get back to it to see what happens next.
Unfortunately, eventually the main character, Bertrand de Roujay, wore me down and I got to the point where I'd had enough of him. Without going into detail, I'll just say that this guy - while he was cuckolded by two of his wives during the time span of the story - was also among the luckiest people probably in all of WWII; it became apparent the author was determined to keep him from any harm despite his many, often ruthless enemies, and to preserve for him a substantial role in what became the restored French government in the aftermath of all the chaos of the liberation.
The sense that this guy was 'entitled', and was going to persevere, despite others being killed left and right all around him for often far less egregious mistakes, became increasingly annoying to me as the novel reached its denouement. And he did, and the book ended with him enjoying, IMO, an undeserved exalted perch amidst relentless tumult. Why? Maybe it's just me.
Unfortunately, eventually the main character, Bertrand de Roujay, wore me down and I got to the point where I'd had enough of him. Without going into detail, I'll just say that this guy - while he was cuckolded by two of his wives during the time span of the story - was also among the luckiest people probably in all of WWII; it became apparent the author was determined to keep him from any harm despite his many, often ruthless enemies, and to preserve for him a substantial role in what became the restored French government in the aftermath of all the chaos of the liberation.
The sense that this guy was 'entitled', and was going to persevere, despite others being killed left and right all around him for often far less egregious mistakes, became increasingly annoying to me as the novel reached its denouement. And he did, and the book ended with him enjoying, IMO, an undeserved exalted perch amidst relentless tumult. Why? Maybe it's just me.
August 19, 2010
A great fiction for any one interested in the French resistance and the history of France leading up to and during the Second World War. Although the story is made-up, the places, the times, the setting are real. Not just great for history buffs, but also a great story that captures the complexity of human character.
October 31, 2017
Excellent book.Well Written,serious,entertaining.A marvellous tale of French families from 1900 to 1950 covering the ups and downs of French life and politics and centring on the divided responses to the German invasion of 1940.Excellent way to learn French history through an intriguing and complex story.
January 6, 2012
This is my favorite kind of novel. The characters are well drawn-I cared about them deeply. The story had many cliff-hangers. All were tied up well at the end. It is a long book but I read it in a month- at Christmas time no less. I highly recommend this book!!!
April 19, 2013
This was a great book for me--French history, World War II, politics, intrigue and a well-written story. If you share many of these interests, you will enjoy this.
February 4, 2016
Not so good on second reading
April 11, 2016
An epic saga of the French Resistance in WWII. The history was wonderful. The characters were solid and the plot was very good. The prose was ok - the Catholic philosophy wore on me a bit.
November 22, 2015
interesting glimpse into French resistance during WWII
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews