La Fayette, We Are Here!

The story of the Résistance is the story of ordinary men and women rising to the occasion. Risking everything to fight oppression, to defend their homes, their country, their way of life. Being a résistant could mean many things. You could be part of a network, you could just run errands or messages, you could spy on the Germans or just not answer their questions properly. The Résistance took many, many forms, just like the collaboration.

Join us as we explore this troubled, violent and fascinating period of French history!

Timecodes
Introduction
05:29 - Rising from the Ashes
13:47 - Deciding to Fight
20:31 - Unifying the Movements
26:56 - Liberating France
37:07 - Conclusion

Relevant Episodes:
The Fall of France of 1940, German Victory or French Defeat?
Charles de Gaulle, Tales of Grandeur

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Photograph: The Résistance fighter Simone Segouin, aka "Nicole Minet", on August 23rd 1944.

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This is part II of our episode swap on The Raft of the Medusa from the great podcast Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs by Rich Napolitano. Enjoy this bonus episode and check out Rich's podcast, it's fantastic!

The French frigate Medusa shipwreck is one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history, occurring in 1816 off the coast of present-day Mauritania. The ship, intended to transport French officials to Senegal, ran aground on the Arguin Bank due to the incompetence of its captain, Viscount Hugues de Chaumareys and an arrogant passenger Antoine Richefort, who convinced Chaumareys he was a skilled, experienced navigator. The evacuation of the vessel was chaotic and poorly managed, resulting in the abandonment of over 147 passengers on a crude, makeshift raft. The survivors endured a harrowing ordeal of starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism during their 13-day drift before rescue, with only 15 out of the 147 surviving. 

The aftermath of the Medusa shipwreck sparked public outrage in France, leading to a sensational trial and widespread condemnation of the ship’s officers and government officials involved. Théodore Géricault, a French artist, famously depicted the tragedy in his painting “The Raft of the Medusa,” capturing the despair and horror experienced by the survivors. The disaster highlighted systemic issues within the French naval administration, including nepotism and incompetence, prompting reforms in naval recruitment and training practices.

Links:
The Raft of the Medusa page, on Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs: https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/03/11/the-raft-of-the-medusa/

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Le Radeau de la Méduse by Théodore Géricault, 1818-1819

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In this very special episode, we interview Thérèse Casadesus Rawson, daughter of the renowned French pianists Robert and Gaby Casadesus. The occasion is the publication of Gaby Casadesus' book My Musical Notes: A Journey in Classical Piano between the World Wars and Beyond, now available in English. We discuss the book, as well as Thérèse's parents' careers, lives, and enduring legacy.

Together, we travel around the globe, delve into the lives of some of the most celebrated musicians of the twentieth century, and even touch on encounters with other famous figures, including Albert Einstein. Join us for a musical journey unlike any other.

Timecodes
Introduction
02:45 - Pianists Careers and Love
07:18 - The 1920's & 30s
16:57 - Einstein, the War & the USA
30:59 - Post War Life in France and the USA
38:22 - The Tragedies of 1972
45:32 - The Couple's Legacy
50:10 - Conclusion

Links:
Get the book My Musical Notes: A Journey in Classical Piano between the World Wars and Beyond My Musical Notes by Gaby Casadesus. Available at Barnes & Nobles, Indigo and Amazon (unaffiliated links).

The Casadesus Family's Website: https://casadesus.com

The Fontainebleau Schools for Music and Fine Arts: https://fontainebleauschools.org

Robert Casadesus' page on Apple Music Classical: https://classical.music.apple.com/ca/artist/robert-casadesus-1899?l=fr-CA

Gaby Casadesus' page on Apple Music Classical: https://classical.music.apple.com/ca/artist/gaby-casadesus-1901?l=fr-CA

Casadesus: First Family Of The Piano (DVD): https://www.vaimusic.com/product/4276.html

Robert Casadesus Website: https://www.robertcasadesus.com/en/long-biography/

Danses Méditerranéennes and Dolly: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/casadesus-3-danses-m%C3%A9diterran%C3%A9ennes-chabrier-3-valses/1452594800

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Robert and Gaby Casadesus, photo by Axel Chambily-Casadesus

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We have something special for today, an episode swap! Coming straight from the great podcast Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs by Rich Napolitano, I give you the story of the Radeau de la Méduse, The Raft of the Medusa.

The French frigate Medusa shipwreck is one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history, occurring in 1816 off the coast of present-day Mauritania. The ship, intended to transport French officials to Senegal, ran aground on the Arguin Bank due to the incompetence of its captain, Viscount Hugues de Chaumareys and an arrogant passenger Antoine Richefort, who convinced Chaumareys he was a skilled, experienced navigator. The evacuation of the vessel was chaotic and poorly managed, resulting in the abandonment of over 147 passengers on a crude, makeshift raft. The survivors endured a harrowing ordeal of starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism during their 13-day drift before rescue, with only 15 out of the 147 surviving. 

The aftermath of the Medusa shipwreck sparked public outrage in France, leading to a sensational trial and widespread condemnation of the ship’s officers and government officials involved. Théodore Géricault, a French artist, famously depicted the tragedy in his painting “The Raft of the Medusa,” capturing the despair and horror experienced by the survivors. The disaster highlighted systemic issues within the French naval administration, including nepotism and incompetence, prompting reforms in naval recruitment and training practices.

Links:
The Raft of the Medusa page, on Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs: https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/03/11/the-raft-of-the-medusa/

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Le Radeau de la Méduse by Théodore Géricault, 1818-1819

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Charles MacKay, PhD, former university history professor at Morehead State University and West Virginia University joins us to discuss Queen Marie-Antoinette and her family, especially her son, the ill-fated Louis XVII.

These members of the French royal family suffered terribly during the French Revolution, eventually losing their lives to the guillotine or to mistreatment. Join us for a riveting discussion on this Cursed Family.

Timecodes
Introduction
03:56 - The Austrian Bride
07:55 - Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France
19:29 - The Affair of the Diamond Necklace
34:18 - The Royal Couple's Family Life
39:39 - The French Revolution
45:52 - The Flight to Varennes and the Queen's Trial
56:02 - Louis XVII, an 8-year-old in solitary confinement
01:02:52 - The Legacies of Marie-Antoinette & Louis XVII
01:10:23 - Conclusion

Links:

Charles’s BlueSky profile: https://bsky.app/profile/bubblesvampire.bsky.social

Charles’s X profile: https://x.com/BubblesVampire

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Marie-Antoinette et ses enfants, by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, 1787.

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We will traverse the peaks and valleys of five republics, each reflecting France’s evolving spirit and struggles. From revolutionary fervour to imperial ambition, from the trials of war to the triumphs of modern democracy, each republic has contributed to the rich mosaic of France as we know it today.

Join us as we unravel the dramatic narrative of the Five French Republics, where every chapter is a tale of resilience and reinvention. Prepare to be captivated by a story as rich and complex as France itself.


Timecodes
Introduction
05:15 - Establishment of the First Republic
17:38 - The Directorate and the Consulate
25:05 - The short-lived Second Republic
34:47 - The Third Republic - Out of the Ashes, into the Fire
45:11 - The Belle Époque and the World Wars
51:12 - The Fourth Republic - Colonial Crisis
58:45 - The Fifth Republic - Presidential authority
01:04:19 - Conclusion

Relevant Episodes:

• First Republic: The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor & Napoléon Part I - From Corsica to Paris
• Second & Third Republics: The Franco-Prussian War of 1870, rehearsal for the World Wars, French Indochina, from Imperial Jewel to Hell on Earth, The Dreyfus Affair. France's Shame, The First World War. The French Experience
• Fourth & Fifth Republics: The Fall of France of 1940, German Victory or French Defeat?, Charles de Gaulle, Tales of Grandeur

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: La République triomphante préside à la grande fête nationale du 14 juillet 1880, 1880 (Archives nationales, Paris).

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To commemorate the 200th anniversary of La Fayette's grand tour of the USA in 1824, we have a special episode featuring guest Elizabeth Reese. Elizabeth is a public historian whose work focuses on the American Revolution and the Early Republic.

She recently published a book on the famed Marquis' visit to America: "Marquis de Lafayette Returns - A Tour of America's National Capital Region".

Join us as we discuss the circumstances, unfolding, and consequences of this great endeavour.

Timecodes
Introduction
04:23 - Brief overview of La Fayette and why President Monroe Invited Him
15:26 - The Scale of the Tour
21:35 - La Fayette Visits DC
28:33 - Important Events during the Tour
37:17 - The Legacy of the Tour
46:23 - Conclusion

Relevant Links:

• Elizabeth's Website: https://www.elizabethmreese.com/
• Her book "Marquis de Lafayette Returns - A Tour of America's National Capital Region": https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781467155878/
• Elizabeth's BlueSky profile: https://bsky.app/profile/elizamreese.bsky.social
• Elizabeth's Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/elizamreese/
• Elizabeth's X profile: https://x.com/elizamreese
• Lafayette 200's Website (by American Friends of Lafayette): https://lafayette200.org/

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: La Fayette in 1825, portrait by Matthew Harris Jouett

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• On the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War: https://www.lafayettepodcast.com/1969630/10702428-the-franco-prussian-war-of-1870-rehearsal-for-the-world-wars
• On late 19th century colonization: https://www.lafayettepodcast.com/1969630/12999723-french-indochina-from-imperial-jewel-to-hell-on-earth
• On the Dreyfus Affair: https://www.lafayettepodcast.com/1969630/14076356-the-dreyfus-affair-france-s-shame

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Jules Verne in 1892, photograph by Charles Herbert

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On one side, the Catholic majority, unwavering in their devotion to Rome. On the other, the Huguenots, French Protestants inspired by the teachings of Jean Calvin.  Caught in the crossfire of this religious divide was the monarchy, struggling to maintain order amidst growing tension. But their efforts often only fuelled the flames of conflict.

And so, in 1562, the first shots were fired in what would become known as the French Wars of Religion. Over the next three decades, France would be engulfed in a series of bloody clashes between Catholics and Protestants, tearing the nation apart.

Join us as we unravel the intricate tapestry of alliances, betrayals, and power struggles that defined this turbulent period. From the grand halls of royal palaces to the blood-soaked fields of battle, we'll bring to life the key events and personalities that shaped the destiny of France.

Timecodes:
Introduction
05:15 - From Strength to Chaos
17:34 - Instability and Crisis
27:24 - War, War, War!
33:53 - The Saint-Barthélemy Massacre
41:05 - The Eighth and Final War
47:55 - Henri IV - "Paris is well worth a Mass"
52:06 - Conclusion

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: "St. Bartholomew's Day massacre' by François Dubois (1572)

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When we talk about Napoléon, we often talk about battles or politics, but we don't talk nearly enough about the man. Some dismiss him as a proto-Hitler, others adore him as they would a god. But few actually try to crack open the mysteries of the Napoleonic mind. Author Louis Sarkozy did just that, by studying Napoléon Bonaparte and his most important personal activity: his readings.

Louis Sarkozy's upcoming book, Napoleon's Library, is both a fantastic character study and a thoroughly executed research on the emperor's reading habits. It informs us of the importance of his readings, as well as the evolution of his mind throughout the years.

Louis and I had a fantastic discussion regarding Napoléon's character, achievements, failures and legacy. We also threw a few jabs at the 2023 movie by Ridley Scott.

Timecodes:
Introduction
04:13 - Napoléon's Readings
12:55 - From Words to Action
19:06 - From Thinker to Soldier
33:59 - Napoléon's Mythos & Legacy
52:11- Napoléon's Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses
01:01:28 - The 2023 Movie
01:08:11 - Conclusion

Louis Sarkozy's Website: https://www.louissarkozy.org/
Louis Sarkozy's Profile on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/napsarkozy

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Bonaparte, Premier consul, by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1804)

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We often see history as a succession of dates, events, wars and political machinations. But we should not forget that history is also forged by culture and by art. Art reflects society's values and aspirations, but also helps create them and move people forward. It also elevates us and makes us better in many ways.

Among the many art forms available to us, music is the one that transports us with the greatest strength. It surrounds us, lifts us and takes us to places we didn't know existed. Oh, literature and paintings can do that too, but music is special. It is unique as it can be savoured with our eyes closed. 

Let's meet Camille Saint-Saëns and France's music!

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For France, the Great War is a serious and deep wound that she partially inflicted on herself. It is painful and has never fully healed. It is something personal, felt by all strata of the nation. From the humblest peasant to the richest industrialist, no layer of French society was spared in the great slaughter that the trenches were. The country itself still bears the scars of battles dating back nearly 110 years. Every city and village in France has a monument to the dead of the First World War, often with a staggering number of fallen soldiers considering the local population. And that's not counting the wounded, the mutilated, the traumatized.

We are not going to go through dates and battles. We are not going to summarize four years of destructive conflict by analyzing every move and strategic decision. Others have done it many times, surely better than me. No, we will focus on the experience of the country of France during those dreadful years from 1914 to 1918. 

Timecodes:
Introduction
05:18 - On The War Path
13:22 - The Poilus
26:51 - France at War
42:18 - Life after 1918
48:11 - Conclusion

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Fête de L’Alsace-Lorraine le 17 novembre 1918. Les blessés défilent avenue des Champs-Elysées, Paris. Agence Rol, Public Domain (Gallica)

Recommended link: Blueprint for Armageddon, Hardcore History podcast by Dan Carlin

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Liberté, égalité, fraternité. This is the French Republic’s motto. Liberty and equality are also in the first article of the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" of 1789. The French are very proud of that heritage, of France’s struggle during and after the Revolution. They think of their homeland as the cradle of liberty in Europe, as a welcoming and understanding land, ruled by reason and intellect, rather than by prejudice and bigotry. Sadly, those clear and healthy waters of freedom and justice often got muddied over the years.

In the late nineteenth century, France was a wounded country. Her honour had been tarnished in 1870-71 and her population was deeply traumatized by the civil war that ensued. Fears of an enemy, and of traitors, was at an all time high. This very specific phase mixed with an element older than France herself: antisemitism. In 1894, captain Alfred Dreyfus would suffer greatly as a consequence of those elements. Although there are some saving graces, and some might even say a silver lining, this whole series of events really are France’s shame!

Timecodes:
Introduction
03:38 - La Belle Époque
08:48 - Alfred Dreyfus, Jewish French officer
14:28 - Dreyfus Arrested
21:17 - L'Affaire begins
26:07 - J'accuse...!
34:03 - The Rennes Trial
39:20 - Rehabilitation
44:10 - Conclusion

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: "The traitor: Degradation of Alfred Dreyfus, degradation in the Morland Court of the military school in Paris" front page of the illustrated supplement of the Petit Journal, Sunday, January 13, 1895.

Recommended link: The Siècle podcast by David H. Montgomery, available at http://thesiecle.com/

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King Louis XIII and the Cardinal de Richelieu. These two men are quite important and deserve to be better known. The Cardinal is probably the most known of the two, because of his policies, wars and his long lasting impact on French institutions and Europe's destiny.

Louis XIII is often perceived as the weaker of the two, the king who merely signed his minister's recommendation. But history is never quite that straightforward, that easy. It is under these men that France will become an absolute monarchy and will begin her rise as Europe's dominant power. Louis XIII's son, Louis XIV will complete his father's work and become Europe's most powerful monarch. 

Join me as I discuss the Just king and the famed red eminence, France's dynamic duo! 

Timecodes:
Introduction
04:13 - Bloodied France
09:47 - The Red Eminence
13:48 - The Phoenix Rises
19:56 - The Great Partnership
26:28 - A Reinforced Kingdom
33:40 - France and the World
38:31 - Conclusion

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Louis XIII in coronation costume and Portrait of Cardinal Richelieu. Both by Philippe de Champaigne.

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The Nouvelle France (New France) is the French colonization of North America. And by this I mean North America, not just Canada. Over a couple of centuries, the French established settlements all over North America, especially along the St-Lawrence and Mississippi River but also in Nova Scotia, Florida, Louisiana and more.

New France basically existed from the first adventures of Jacques Cartier in 1534 to the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763 and the signature of the treaty of Paris, that saw France lose most of its American possessions. It is a remarkable, violent, tragic and perennial story. Embark with me on this grand adventure! 

Timecodes:
Introduction
06:03 - Adventure and Discovery in America
13:27 - The First French Settlers
21:09 - Expansion Along the Rivers
26:53 - War and Peace
35:25 - New France Peaks
44:07 - New France Dies
53:26 - The Following Years
57:42 - Conclusion

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: L'expédition de Cavelier de la Salle pour la Louisiane, 1684, by Théodore Gudin (1844). (Grand Palais, Château de Versailles).

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We delve into the life and reign of King François I (Francis the First), who ruled France from 1515 to 1547. Despite facing significant challenges and experiencing notable failures during his rule, François I remains one of the most renowned French monarchs. He is particularly associated with the Renaissance in France and has left a lasting legacy, particularly in the fields of arts and sciences.

He's also responsible for the establishment of New France by sending Jacques Cartier across the Atlantic. Join me for one of the most extraordinary adventures of the Sixteenth century!

Timecodes:
Introduction
03:55- An Unexpected King
09:02- A Young and Ambitious King
16:50- A Builder King
26:24- A Torn King
32:33- An Old King
36:25- Conclusion

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: François Ier around 1530 by Jean Clouet (Louvre Museum).

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In this special episode, I am joined by Sean J. McLaughlin, historian specialized on the relationship between Charles de Gaulle and John Fitzgerald Kennedy.  He is the author of JFK and de Gaulle: How America and France Failed in Vietnam, 1961-1963 (University Press of Kentucky, 2019).

Together, we discuss the complex but utterly fascinating relationship between France and America in the post-WWII world, especially in Southeast Asia. France and America, two Allies with very different perspectives, had a rough time discussing the situation in Vietnam in the 1950's and 1960's. Add to that the personalities of key characters like de Gaulle and Kennedy, and you end up with a fascinating, if sad, story.

Join us for this great discussion!

Find Sean's books at the University Press of Kentucky

Timecodes:
Introduction
02:35- France's Place at the Outcome of WWII
10:23- De Gaulle's Relationship with America
21:21- John F. Kennedy, France and Vietnam
45:50- Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and France
54:52- France's International Role Since the Vietnam War
59:24- France and America's Relationship Now
1:01:55- Conclusion

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Photo: De Gaulle and JFK in Paris, 1961. John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library, Boston

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"The pearl of the Empire", that's how the French described their colony of Indochina, comprised of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. They took over control in the nineteenth century, exploited the place for decades, and finally got kicked out in 1954-55. 

It is a story of violence and exploitation. Of colonization and war. Of exchanges and legacies. And sometimes, of beauty. A story also rarely told in France, as the French aren't proud of what they did there.

Let’s find out more about French Indochina; from Imperial Jewel, to Hell on Earth. 

Timecodes:

Introduction
03:23- The Second French Colonial Empire
08:26- The Establishment of French Indochina
16:43- A Colony of Exploitation
21:58- Bloody Greed
25:52- World War II and the Vietnamese Emancipation
30:07- The Indochina War
42:43- Conclusion


Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Art: Poster for tourism in French Indochina drawn by J. Lhuissier, circa 1920.

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