Andre Maurois fights the Nazis
On this day in 1885 the French writer and politician Andre Maurois was born. Maurois spent time in Britain before the fall of France in... Read More
Ambrose Bierce disappears in Chihuahua
On this day in 1842 the American critic and writer Ambrose Bierce was born. During his life he was famous for his direct and penetrating... Read More
Jean Anouilh portrays France’s moral struggle
On this day in 1910 the French dramatist Jean Anouilh was born. Much of Anouilh’s drama was produced during some of France’s darkest days during... Read More
Sartre and de Beauvoir’s strange relationship
On this day in 1905 Jean Paul Sartre, philosopher and writer was born. Sartre’s name is always linked with that of Simone de Beauvoir. Though... Read More
Blaise Pascal invents the calculating machine
On this day in 1623 the French philosopher, mathematician and writer Blaise Pascal was born. One of the profoundest thinkers since the Graeco Roman period,... Read More
Wellington slept at Waterloo
On this day in 1815 the Battle of Waterloo was fought. As the Duke of Wellington later remarked, it was: ‘A damned close run thing.’... Read More