“Occupation: The Ordeal of France, 1940-1944” by Ian Ousby (Jonathan Cape, London)
Imagine daily life in Paris that involved standing in line for four or five hours merely to buy one egg, or a loaf of bread — having to be indoors by nine at night. A situation where neighbors disappear, and are never seen again. This is the picture Ian Ousby presents in his new book on France during the occupation years, the most striking impression conveyed being how, for four years, the “surreal” replaced reality so utterly that the country became a nation of near-zombies. Ousby isn’t so much a classic historian, as a socio-paleantologist, with a near genius talent for resurrecting past mental states and circumstances. We relive the German invasion, the Vichy government and the resistance through the author’s careful accumulation of detail evoking the fears and hopes of those times. MH

“The Death of Jean Moulin, Biography of a Ghost” by Patrick Marnham (Pimlico, London)
Jean Moulin became the symbol of French Resistance during the Occupation. This new biography revisits different aspects of Moulin’s life, dissecting the myths that surrounded his enigmatic persona. The reader is struck by how easily and ruthlessly the future resistance leader moved up through the French Civil Service, cultivating powerful political and social patronage to become the youngest prefect ever named in France. His loyalities, even to his closest friends, could never be characterized as transparent, and his connections with various political and ideological tendancies and parties were as ambiguous as they were sometimes conflicting. The mystery of Jean Moulin is that despite a charming and gracious demeanor — even the Germans liked him — he was so secretive and calculating that even today any one of his actions or decisions can inspire heatedly distinct interpretations. This is indeed a tale of political intrigue, high danger, secrecy and betrayal It is also the story of myth-making and how vital it is to the rebuilding of a nation. MH

The Game of War, The Life and Death of Guy Debord by Andrew Hussey, (Random House)
This biography focuses on one of France’s most intriguing revolutionary thinkers, who led the Situationist International — a volatile movement of artists, intellectuals and revolutionaries — during the ’ 50s and ’60s. It traces the life of a man hailed by both underground subversives and the halls of academia. Hussey’s portrayal pulls the veil from postwar intellectual France revealing a man who dedicated his life — and possibly death — to confronting the alienation of contemporary existence. BR

Where the Stress Falls (Essays) by Susan Sontag (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Thirty-five years after her first collection of essays — the now classic “Against Interpretation” — America’s most important figure in this field has chosen more than 40 pieces of writing from the last two decades that illustrate a kaleidoscopic array of interests, passions, observations and ideas. Dividing this volume into three sections — “Reading” considers various authors including Roland Barthes and Borgès, while “Seeing” examines such topics as photography, film and dance and the final part is titled “There and Here” — Sontag explores subjects like the writing vocation. These essays constitute nothing less than an urgent engagement with the most significant aesthetic and moral issues of our times. BR

Life in a Postcard, Escape to the French Pyrenees by Rosemary Baily (Random House)
A charming book that recounts the author’s adventures in buying and fixing up a ruined medieval monastery in southeastern France’s Catalan region. Written in an intimate style, this “postcard” enables us to share the author’s triumphs and frustrations as she confronts the challenges of the rustic life — it’s one ot those books that feels like a letter from a friend. BR

GUIDES
Routard Provence & the Côte d’Azur (Hachette)
When the French set out for their holidays, chances are they’re carrying a Guide du Routard, widely considered one of the best sources of travel advice available in this country. Routard roughly translates as “globetrotter,” and the latest edition of this highly practical manual is in English. Packed with insider’s tips on food, drink and accommodation assessed from a French point of view, it provides tips on good value restos, as well as perceptive insights into character, customs and lifestyle — the best place to start when organizing summer getaways, in Provence and on the Côte d’Azur. BR

Le thé à Paris by Christine Barbaste (Parisgramme)
For enthusiasts and neophytes alike, this Paris guide (in French) tells you where to shop for tea from the four corners of the globe. It features a brief historical summary, along with a series of step-by-step explanations that show the reader how to distinguish between a multiplicity of flavors and blends. Plus a where-to listing of stores that stock the appropriate accessories for making a proper cup of English tea, or performing Japanese tea ceremonies. Whether it’s black or green, with sugar, lemon or milk, you’ll find the perfect spot to sip your favorite beverage. MW

Les meilleurs dépôts-ventes de Paris by Valérie Appert and Mariadèle Campion (Parisgramme)
Out to update your wardrobe for the spring season? Although the soldes have long gone, this slender manual (in French) fills you “in” on Paris’ top secondhand shops. Handy info includes basic rules — helpful when buying and exchanging your own nearly-new clothes — and advice regarding the best time of the year to unearth various bargains. Guide in hand, you’ll be equipped to dress chic without spending a fortune. MW

Reviews by Marc Heberden, Marie Winfield & Bob Roberts