John Lichfield, Our Man in Paris book launch December 9th, 2010

OUR MAN IN PARIS A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, FRANCE AND THE FRENCH John Lichfield

Since 1997 John Lichfield, The Independent’s correspondent in France, has been sending dispatches back to the newspaper in London. More than transient news stories, the popular ‘Our Man in Paris’ series consists of essays on all things French. Sometimes serious, at other times light-hearted, they offer varied vignettes of life in the hexagone and trace the author’s evolving relationship with his adopted country. Many of Lichfield’s themes concern the mysteries of Paris and its people. Who is responsible for the city’s extraordinary plumbing? How can you drive around the Arc de Triomphe and survive? He also ponders the phenomena that intrigue many foreigners, such as the eloquence of the capital’s beggars and the identity of the intimidating but fast disappearing concierge. Visiting places as different as the Musée d’Orsay and Disneyland, he explores culture high and low as well as the everyday pleasures and problems of living in Paris. Leaving the capital, the dispatches also cover provincial France, especially a part of rural Normandy where the author has a house. Here he writes of a dysfunctional farmer neighbour, the difficulties of tending an ‘English’ lawn and the threat of a new high-speed road development to his tiny commune. Nor are more general aspects of French society ignored. A section deals with politics, examining the Sarkozy phenomenon as well as anti-French sentiment in the United States, while another follows the author’s children through the bureaucratic French education system. Predictably, there are pieces on French food and restaurants, while Lichfield also guides the reader through the linguistic minefield of tu and vous as well as exposing the continuing spectre of the German Occupation and collaboration. Our Man in Paris is a highly readable account of our nearest neighbours and their idiosyncracies. Perceptive and affectionate, it provides a wealth of insights into France and the French.

Reminder of the Paris Short Story Contest - deadline end November!

Creative Writing Contest for Best Short Stories About Paris, Call for Submissions
Paris Writers News' short story contest about Paris is open to writers worldwide.

The story can come from anywhere--Hong Kong, Mumbai, New Orleans, Karachi, Aukland, Beijing, Cairo, Mexico City, even Paris!--but it must be in English and it must have some link to France.

If you've written a fine short story about Paris, please apply!

PARIS SHORT STORY CONTEST

Deadline: November 30.

Prize: 200 euros plus publication of top 12 stories in a book called "The Best and Most Delightful Stories About Paris"
Entry fee: 10 euros (paypal)
Finalist judges : Nicola Keegan, Janet Skeslien Charles, Elizabeth Bard, Charles Trueheart, Brian Spence, Charles and Clydette De Groot, Cara Black, Anne Korkeakivi, Heather Stimmler Hall, Penelope Fletcher, Robert Stewart, and Diane Johnson.
Open to writers worldwide.

Restrictions: Maximum 5,000 words. Submission in the body of the email (no attachments, please)

For info and submissions: http://parisstoriescontest.blogspot.com/

The Paris Short Story Contest now has a new flyer that can be printed out and posted at local bookshops, universities, cafes -- any place writers gather! http://laurelzuckerman.typepad.fr/files/paris-short-story-contest.pdf

The Paris Short Story Contest is organized by Paris Writers News. For more information, please contact Editor Laurel Zuckerman at pariswritersnews aaattttt gmail.com . International and expat writers as well as students and faculty at MFA programs are encouraged to participate.