France
A dying language
Why I won’t let my children be taught French
Investment: Love for shale
Here’s how to get a slice of the fracking action
The hapless stationmaster watches France’s future prosperity depart
I’ve always respected stationmasters, but that sentiment is not universally shared. A distinguished friend of mine across the Channel described…
Mobile phones with a touch of tweed
I wouldn’t worry much about the future of the British economy. Because I have a simple plan to make the…
The making of the myth
Writing about Napoleon is a risky business. It exposes the author to the brickbats of the blind worshippers for whom…
Notes on …Skiing in Val d’Isère
First things first. Yes, Val d’Isère does have a reputation for being expensive — and it is, especially if you’re…
Not just a pretty dress
Every fashion era has its monster and in ours it’s Karl Lagerfeld, a man who has so emptied himself on…
How our rich new neighbours can help solve the affordable housing shortage
The mega-rich are best housed behind high fences, on wooded estates patrolled by dogs; that way, they don’t have to…
Low life
This time last year the postman delivered a picture postcard depicting a village square in Provence. The photograph on the…
Low life
Hotel Trepaner, St Raphael, French Riviera: I have read all ten reviews on this site. The overall rating (given by…
Every little helps as the big banks continue to clean up their act
By and large it was a good week for the big banks — underpinned by encouraging news from the wider…
Notes on…Normandy
There are some, I know, who for whom Normandy means the three Cs — cider, cream and calvados. But if,…
Sarko strikes back
The defeated president is ready to retake his party – and wreak his revenge on François Hollande
French disconnection
One of the many cultural initiatives to have come out of France in the past 50 years — and therefore…
