Thomas Appelman

“What should a good children’s book be like? If you ask me, I can tell you after thinking long and hard: It must be good.”
― Astrid Lindgren

“The Times
2 July 1952
WAS BRITISH BARONESS WORKING FOR THE NAZIS IN PARIS?
By Philip Bing-Wallace
It was alleged that Baroness Freya Saumures (who claimed to be of Swedish descent but is a British subject) was one of the many women that entertained the Gestapo and SS during the occupation of Paris, a jury was told. At the baroness’s trial today, the Old Bailey heard Daniel Merrick-James QC, prosecuting council, astonish the jury by revealing that Baroness Freya Saumures allegedly worked with the Nazis throughout the Nazi occupation of Paris.
There was a photograph of a woman in a headscarf and dark glasses, alongside a tall dark-haired man who had a protective arm around her, his face shielded by his hand. A description beneath the image read: Baroness Saumures with her husband, Baron Ferdinand Saumures, outside the Old Bailey after her acquittal.
Alec could not see her face fully, but the picture of the baron, even partially obscured, certainly looked very like the man lying dead in the Battersea Park Road crypt. Alec read on.
When Mr Merrick-James sat, a clerk of the court handed the judge, Justice Henry Folks, a note. The judge then asked the court to be cleared. Twenty minutes later, the court was reconvened. Justice Folks announced to the jury that the prosecution had dropped all charges and that Lady Saumures was acquitted.
There was no explanation for the acquittal. The jury was dismissed with thanks. Neither Baron nor Baroness Saumures had any comment.
Baron and Baroness Saumures live in West Sussex and are well known to a select group for their musical evenings and events. They are also well known for protecting their privacy.
Alec rummaged on. It was getting close to lunchtime and his head was beginning to ache.”
― Hugo Woolley, The Wasp Trap

“One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is to have a happy childhood.”
― Agatha Christie

“- Adevărat nu înseamnă felul cum eşti făcut, a spus Calul de Piele. E un lucru care ţi se-ntâmplă. Când cineva ţine la tine vreme-ndelungată, nu doar ca să se joace cu tine, ci fiindcă te iubeşte CU ADEVĂRAT, atunci devii şi tu Adevărat.
- Şi doare? a întrebat Iepurele.
- Uneori, a zis Calul de Piele, care nu minţea niciodată. Dar când eşti Adevărat, nu iei în seamă durerea.
- Şi se întamplă dintr-odată, ca şi cum te-ar fi întors cineva cu cheia, sau pas cu pas? a întrebat Iepurele.
- Nu se-ntâmplă dintr-odată, a spus Calul de Piele. Devii treptat. Şi durează mult. De-asta nu prea li se-ntîmplă celor care se sparg uşor, au muchii tăioase sau trebuie păstraţi cu grijă. În general, când ajungi Adevărat, nu mai ai mult păr, îţi ies ochii din găvane, te lasă încheieturile şi eşti ponosit. Dar lucrurile astea n-au nicio importanţă, fiindcă odată ce eşti Adevărat, nu mai poti să fii urât decât pentru cei care nu-nţeleg.”
― Margery Williams Bianco