The “week of blood” in gruesome detail
La Semaine sanglante: Mai 1871, légendes et comptes by Michèle Audin My rating: 5 of 5 stars Michèle Audin has done meticulous research to penetrate the many myths and distortions around “the week of blood”, May 21 to May 28, 1871, the massacre that destroyed the Paris Commune. How many were killed during that week? … read more »
Blood, sex and (a little) politics: the Paris Commune
Now that my novel about the Paris Commune is scheduled for publication (August 2021), I’m republishing some of my notes of other works about the Commune. This one is from October 2013. Le Cri du peuple by Jean Vautrin My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is an immensely agitated, minutely detailed, ridiculously plotted police … read more »
Blood, sex and (a little) politics in the Paris Commune
Le Cri du peuple by Jean Vautrin My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is an immensely agitated, minutely detailed, ridiculously plotted police thriller, full of exaggerated characters, improbable coincidence and lots and lots of blood and sex, set in Paris during the 1871 Commune. An emotionally disturbed cop and ex chain-gang convict (Charles Bassoucissé, … read more »