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Ronnie Hess's avatar

When I lived in Paris in the 1980's, I was an avid reader of Claude Sarraute's columns in Le Monde. So much so that I asked if we could meet -- I was an American journalist at the time, thinking of doing a story about her. I spent several hours with Sarraute at Le Monde, watching her write her column, marveling all the while at her energy, her quick wit and political acumen.

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Judy MacMahon—Fondatrice's avatar

Bonjour Ronnie

What a wonderful memory.

Thanks for sharing

Did you ever write the story?

Best

Judy

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Elisabeth Sauvage-Callaghan's avatar

This is fantastic!!! I am now reading “Avant que t’oublies tout,” a memoir written in an interview format, the interviewer being Laurent Ruquier. Her personality shines here. Not that it did not in “Encore un instant.”

And yes, did you ever write this article on Claude Sarraute? It must have been such a great day that you spent with her!

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Robert James Stove's avatar

If you look up page 556 of the late John Ardagh's book FRANCE TODAY (London: Penguin Books, 1995), you'll see a quotation from Claude Sarraute's dithyrambic 1980 tribute to British television. I'd previously had no idea that she was ever married to Jean-François Revel, a big name in my childhood and adolescence (his prose seemed to take up every second edition of the long-defunct ENCOUNTER magazine).

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Judy MacMahon—Fondatrice's avatar

Yes she was very well connected or perhaps I should say well married.

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Elisabeth Sauvage-Callaghan's avatar

I want to check that John Ardagh’s book now!

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