Bernard Ledwidge (1915–1998)

1962 DeGaulle, by Bernard Ledwidge (read 1 Dec 1985) This is a 1982 biography which I much enjoyed reading. It is by a British diplomat. I think it is well-done, despite its quite favorable attitude toward its subject. DeGaulle was born 22 Nov 1890 at Lille and died 9 Nov 1970 in his home at Coomley-les-Deux-Eglises in Lorraine. His was a fantastic life, and I especially enjoyed this book for its coverage of post-war France. In this it is kind of a sequel to D. W. Brogan's magnificent France Under the Republic, which I read just two weeks ago. The last paragraph of the second last chapter of this book I found effective and poignant: "His day's work finished, DeGaulle played patience before dinner. There his father's fate, which ran in the family, overtook him. A blood-vessel ruptured. He exclaimed suddenly in pain and fell forward over the table. Soon he was dead, with no more pain." This was a really good, fun to read book.… (más)