How France, a once-great nation, now cuts a diminished, slightly pathetic figure in the shadow of Germany and Britain.
But she does have one thing going for her - she's still a nice place to retire.
France has become a giant self-pitying museum
This once-great country now cuts a diminished, slightly pathetic figure - but at least it's still a nice place to retire
Francois Hollande, the French president Photo: Getty Images
By Michael Henderson
07 Aug 2015
Telegraph
825 Comments
The death of Europe, said André Malraux, with one of those broad verbal flourishes that French intellectuals find so attractive, is the central fact of our time. But was the novelist correct? Not really, Monsieur. People still come to our continent in their millions, to live, work and play, and they will be coming a hundred years from now.
What one can say, however, is that the decline is the central fact of modern European history. Outranked politically by Germany, culturally by England, and economically by both, Marianne cuts a diminished, slightly pathetic figure. French food is getting better everywhere, except France. Good news for us but not such good news for a proud people whose best and brightest are leaving in droves.
Photo: Alamy
French wine, of course, remains unmatched – at least, their finest wines are. And their films are still very good. Much better than ours. But can you name a living novelist, poet, dramatist, artist or composer of exceptional merit? Pierre Boulez, did I hear? Cold, cold, cold. As for popular music, these are the people who gave us that shadow of a shadow, Johnny Hallyday.
Admittedly, the history of the past 500 years or so reveals the French to be the greatest all-rounders. In the arts and sciences they have traditionally been the highest achievers. They are also world champions when it comes to self-regard. “France has liberated herself,” Charles De Gaulle told cheering Parisians in 1944. Ah yes, we remember it well.
Photographs of Winston Churchill and Charles De Gaulle Photo: EPA
But the symbol of modern France, as thousands of British tourists will find out during this holiday month, is of gendarmes looking the other way. Not on the Italian border, where their reputation for ruthlessness survives. But in Calais their officers of the law have behaved like descendants of the men who allowed the Prussians to march into Paris in 1870 and proclaim the German Empire in the Palace of Mirrors at Versailles.
Much, far too much, is made of that blessed Revolution. And what blessings, pray, did it bestow? The Terror, Napoleon's imperial rule that plunged Europe into darkness, the restoration of the monarchy, the Paris Commune, and the humiliations of 1870 and 1940. Algeria didn’t turn out very well either.
It’s a history of action followed by violent reaction, which makes for instability and immaturity. Listen to their rugby fans hooting disapproval when France lose. There’s something despicable in that sound, self-pity competing for the high ground with vanity.
Culturally, Paris doesn't hold a candle to her rival London
More than 300,000 French men and women have passed judgment on Hollande’s socialist paradise. They prefer to live in Britain instead. The cruellest blow of all. It is true that at least as many British people choose to live in France. Not to work, mind. Not usually. They go to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful country with a glorious future behind it. France: the world’s most appealing museum.
France has become a giant self-pitying museum - Telegraph
But she does have one thing going for her - she's still a nice place to retire.
France has become a giant self-pitying museum
This once-great country now cuts a diminished, slightly pathetic figure - but at least it's still a nice place to retire
Francois Hollande, the French president Photo: Getty Images
By Michael Henderson
07 Aug 2015
Telegraph
The death of Europe, said André Malraux, with one of those broad verbal flourishes that French intellectuals find so attractive, is the central fact of our time. But was the novelist correct? Not really, Monsieur. People still come to our continent in their millions, to live, work and play, and they will be coming a hundred years from now.
What one can say, however, is that the decline is the central fact of modern European history. Outranked politically by Germany, culturally by England, and economically by both, Marianne cuts a diminished, slightly pathetic figure. French food is getting better everywhere, except France. Good news for us but not such good news for a proud people whose best and brightest are leaving in droves.
Photo: Alamy
French wine, of course, remains unmatched – at least, their finest wines are. And their films are still very good. Much better than ours. But can you name a living novelist, poet, dramatist, artist or composer of exceptional merit? Pierre Boulez, did I hear? Cold, cold, cold. As for popular music, these are the people who gave us that shadow of a shadow, Johnny Hallyday.
Admittedly, the history of the past 500 years or so reveals the French to be the greatest all-rounders. In the arts and sciences they have traditionally been the highest achievers. They are also world champions when it comes to self-regard. “France has liberated herself,” Charles De Gaulle told cheering Parisians in 1944. Ah yes, we remember it well.
Photographs of Winston Churchill and Charles De Gaulle Photo: EPA
But the symbol of modern France, as thousands of British tourists will find out during this holiday month, is of gendarmes looking the other way. Not on the Italian border, where their reputation for ruthlessness survives. But in Calais their officers of the law have behaved like descendants of the men who allowed the Prussians to march into Paris in 1870 and proclaim the German Empire in the Palace of Mirrors at Versailles.
Much, far too much, is made of that blessed Revolution. And what blessings, pray, did it bestow? The Terror, Napoleon's imperial rule that plunged Europe into darkness, the restoration of the monarchy, the Paris Commune, and the humiliations of 1870 and 1940. Algeria didn’t turn out very well either.
It’s a history of action followed by violent reaction, which makes for instability and immaturity. Listen to their rugby fans hooting disapproval when France lose. There’s something despicable in that sound, self-pity competing for the high ground with vanity.
Culturally, Paris doesn't hold a candle to her rival London
More than 300,000 French men and women have passed judgment on Hollande’s socialist paradise. They prefer to live in Britain instead. The cruellest blow of all. It is true that at least as many British people choose to live in France. Not to work, mind. Not usually. They go to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful country with a glorious future behind it. France: the world’s most appealing museum.
France has become a giant self-pitying museum - Telegraph
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