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Piers Paul Read

The Free Frenchman Kindle Edition

by Piers Paul Read (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 53 ratings

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A young high-flying French civil servant, Bertrand de Roujay, from a conservative family in Provence, marries Madeleine Bonnet, the daughter of a free-thinking academic. The mothers of the young couple had been childhood friends, but the differences in outlook of the children are exacerbated by the political polarisation that has come over France at the time. We are in the 1930s with Communists and fascists fighting in the streets. The marriage does not last and France goes to war. Bertrand, now a Prefect, is refused permission to join the army; but after France’s defeat and the armistice with the Germans, he decides that he cannot serve under Marshal Petain. He escapes over the Pyrenees and eventually reaches London where he places himself at the disposal of General de Gaulle.
Bertrand’s life in France has introduced the reader to spies, priests, academics, criminals, politicians, prostitutes, policemen and refugees from the Spanish Civil War. In London, he becomes involved with the English and, when sent back to France by de Gaulle, with the different factions in the French Resistance. Bertrand becomes enmeshed in political infighting and mired in moral paradox as the story proceeds to a dramatic denouement.
Awarded the Enid McLeod Literary Prize by the Franco-British Society
‘A marvellous novel of great scope and understanding.’
Anita Brookner, The Spectator
‘Read has produced the intelligent person’s blockbuster.’
The Times Literary Supplement
‘People, ideas and issues jostle the pages as the narrative unfolds at a vigorous, race pace. Read weaves a tale of moral complexity and richness.’
The Sunday Times
‘An ambitious and audacious novel…a sweeping and gripping narrative… Read is almost alone among our novelists in being bold enough to work on this scale.’
The Scotsman
‘A vivid and vigorous story…. It is an absorbing depiction, rich in its old-fashioned attention to human behaviour.’
The New Yorker

Print length

576 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

November 12, 2013
File size

1514 KB
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Bertrand de Roujay is a loyal Frenchman invariably unlucky in love. Women to whom he offers his name seem fated to betray him, while others whom he would not marry remain steadfast. After the Nazi invasion of France Bertrand flees to join the Free French under De Gaulle in London. He leaves behind his daughter, whose mother was a Communist, and his brother, a supporter of Petain and collaborator with the conquering Germans. This family represents the elements that tore apart France at a time when it was in danger of losing its national identity. Bristling with spies and betrayal, the novel tells the story of one man's war and his response to events based on his family history and tradition. Full-bodied characters are flesh and blood, and the times offer as much excitement and drama as the reader could wish. Highly recommended. Andrea Lee Shuey, Dallas P.L.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00GMLZO2U
Publisher ‏ : ‎ (November 12, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 12, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1514 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 576 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,979,732 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #4,549 in Historical Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #16,968 in Historical Thrillers (Books)
- #47,081 in Suspense (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 53 ratings

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4.2 out of 5

53 global ratings

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maurice jensen

An elderly, but still wholly relevant story which does not read like fiction.

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2017

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Lengthy and interesting story about the Resistance in Southern France during ww2. Quite complex and detailed and wholly credible. An old book but as relevant today as when written. Mr Read is an excellent writer and years ago when I lived in England I remember my enjoyment of them. Time has not changed that quality, and this book is still a very good read.

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Ordered book as a gift

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2020

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Arrived promptly

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Amazon Customer Marian Rice

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2018

Great read!

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2014

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close to true accounting of ww2

One person found this helpful

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Faith D. Flaherty

Vive La France

Reviewed in the United States on 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.

2 people found this helpful

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B Grant

Another superior English writer

Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2004

Is it only accidental, that quality English writers receive little feedback on this site, whilst other "American" authors, receive feedback ad nauseum, which ends up being unhelpful as there seems to be little consistency within the reviews.

I agree with the only other review regarding this book, even though I am only halfway through. A truly brilliant book!!

6 people found this helpful

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bikeman

A cracking good read.

Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2009

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Piers Paul Read is an amazing writer, and this is unquestionably his best work of fiction. Read writes with a clear vision, and although he is a Catholic, his character's debates always weigh in equally on both sides of an argument - in other words, he lets the reader decide. Read's novels are for people who liked to be provoked to think while they are being entertained. "The Free Frenchman" tells the story of Bertrand de Roujay and his involvement with the French resistance during WW2. As is always the case in Read's novels, politics and history play an important part in the lives of his characters and in what happens to them. You will indeed learn a lot about what went on politically in WW2 France when you read this long, unforgetable novel. Highly recommended reading for people who enjoy first-class writing.

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