Paper Bullets - Two Artists Who Risked Their Lives to Defy the Nazis - 2021 - 326 Pages

Stonewall Honor Book in Nonfiction

Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction

This is part of my Participation in Paris in July 2023 - Hosted  by Words and Peace 

https://wordsandpeace.com/2023/06/30/paris-in-july-2023/#list

Paper Bullets is the first book to tell the history of an audacious anti-Nazi campaign undertaken by an unlikely pair: two French women, Lucy Schwob and Suzanne Malherbe, who drew on their skills as Parisian avant-garde artists to write and distribute “paper bullets”—wicked insults against Hitler, calls to rebel, and subversive fictional dialogues designed to demoralize Nazi troops occupying their adopted home on the British Channel Island of Jersey. Devising their own PSYOPS campaign, they slipped their notes into soldier’s pockets or tucked them inside newsstand magazines.

Hunted by the secret field police, Lucy and Suzanne were finally betrayed in 1944, when the Germans imprisoned them, and tried them in a court martial, sentencing them to death for their actions. Ultimately they survived, but even in jail, they continued to fight the Nazis by reaching out to other prisoners and spreading a message of hope.

Better remembered today by their artist names, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, the couple’s actions were even more courageous because of who they were: lesbian partners known for cross-dressing and creating the kind of gender-bending work that the Nazis would come to call “degenerate art.” In addition, Lucy was half Jewish, and they had communist affiliations in Paris, where they attended political rallies with Surrealists and socialized with artists like Gertrude Stein." From the publisher 

The bulk of the action takes place on the British Channel island Jersey though the values that motivated the two women were derived from their artistic contacts in Paris prior to moving to Jersey. Both women came from wealthy Paris families and never had any financial worries. They met when quite young and would become lovers. They used pseudonyms and pretended to be step- sisters. They moved to Jersey a few years before the Germans invaded. Jersey was a popular vacation destination for Parisians. The women like the peace of the island a bought a huge house there.

When the Nazis took over Jersey the women begin to distribute a wide variety of "paper bullets" designed to make German soldiers turn against the war. They created a character called "the unknown soldier" whose message was that Hitler cares nothing about them.

Some Jersey residents engaged in passive resistance, others cooperate with the Germans, most just try to get by as conditions get worse as the Germans begin to see defeat is inevitable.

The period of the women's imprisonment is harrowing to read, some German guards tried to be decent, others hated the women.

The Nazis were not as against Lesbian couples as gay men and few locals understood their relationship.

Paper Bullets is an important contribution to the literature of the occupation of Jersey, French resistance, LGBTQ studies and World War Two history.

Jeffrey H. Jackson is professor of history at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. An expert on European history and culture, he is the author of Paris Under Water: How the City of Light Survived the Great Flood of 1910 and Making Jazz French: Music and Modern Life in Interwar Paris. He has appeared in documentary films and helped develop "Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story" for PBS's Great Performances.

Mel ulm

 

The Merry Widow- A 1934 Film Directed by Ernst Lubitsch- Set in the Imaginary Kingdom of Marshovia and Paris in 1895

 

This classic movie is part of my Participation in Paris in July 2023 - hosted by Words and Peace

https://wordsandpeace.com/2023/06/30/paris-in-july-2023/#list

The Merry Widow may be viewed at the link below at no cost. Be advised the it is an unrestored 86 year old film but still very watchable 

https://tubitv.com/movies/715021/the-merry-widow

During Paris in July 2016 I featured another set in Paris movie by Ernst Lubitsch,

Ninotchka, starring Greta Garbo. Seven years is to long between Ernst Lubitsch Films.

The Merry Widow is a musical comedy starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald. It is an adaptation of the 1905 operetta of the same name by Franz Lehár. The film tells the story of a small kingdom that is on the verge of bankruptcy. The only hope for financial salvation lies in the beautiful widow Hanna Glawari (MacDonald), who inherited her husband's fortune. The king of Marshovia (George Barbier) dispatches the dashing Count Danilo (Chevalier) to Paris to win back Hanna's allegiance and restore the nation to prosperity.

Count Danilo is perfectly played by Maurice Chevalier. Every woman in Marshovia is crazy for him but the rich widow. Even the King's wife is infatuated with him. The looks on the faces of her young maids when it turns out they all know his address is alone enough to make the movie hilarious.

Paris is displayed in decadent night clubs and lavish balls,  There are some scary plot turns, but the ending is gratifying.

Soon I Hope to post on three more films by Ernst Lubitsch, To Be or Not to Be, The Shop Around the Corner and Cluny Brown.

For Paris in July I will next feature The Tales of Hoffmmann directed by William Powell and Emeric Pressburger 

Mel Ulm

The Written World : the Power of Stories to Shape People, History, Civilization by Martin Puchner.- 2017- 537 Pages

The Written World : the Power of Stories to Shape People, History, Civilization by Martin Puchner.- 2017- 537 Pages

An Autodatic Corner Selection 

This is a wonderful book for anyone who wishes to increase their understanding of how, from the days of Gilgamesh up to Harry Potter, literature has shaped society as much as the reverse.

Puchner explains how the Sumerians initially used their system of writing only for business and government matters before creating the Epic of Gilgamesh about 2500 B.C.E. Puchner details that it is not know for sure if the epic is based solely on older legends or the work of an individual author. The tale of the flood in Gilgamesh may be the source of the story of the flood in the Old Testament. He offers a fascinating account of how Gilgamesh was translated into English. 

He also goes into early writing in Ancient Egypt. The difficulty of mastering Egyptian hieroglyphics limited literacy to a small elite group.

A huge step forward occurred when Arabic scholars developed a phonetic based alphabet with only a relatively few letters.

Puchner explains how an alphabetical writing method also developed in pre-colonial Meso-American. He talks about how Chinese Confucian texts were of great influence out side of China. The Buddha wrote nothing, Puchner showed me how writings were used to spread his teaching.

He advances to the invention of the Printing Press by Gutenberg and how the ability to cheaply produces thousands of copies of a work actually brought on The Protestant Reformation.

I love The Adventures of Don Quioxte and after reading Puchner's illuminating chapter I want to read it again. He explains how Goethe created the idea of World Literature.

There is much more in The Written World : the Power of Stories to Shape People, History, Civilization by Martin Puchner than I have touched upon.

Martin Puchner, the Byron and Anita Wien Professor at Harvard University, is a prize-winning author, educator, public speaker, and institution builder in the arts and humanities. His writings range from philosophy and theater to culture and technology and have been translated into many languages. Through his best-selling Norton Anthology of World Literature and his HarvardX MOOC Masterpieces of World Literature, he has brought four thousand years of literature to audiences across the globe.

​

"His book, The Written World, which tells the story of literature from the invention of writing to the Internet, has been widely reviewed in The New York Times, The Times (London), the Financial Times, The Times Literary Supplement, The Atlantic, The Economist, among others, covered on radio and television, and has been translated into some twenty languages. It appeared on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list and received the Massachusetts Book Award.His new book, Culture: The Story of Us, tells a global history of culture that raises fundamental questions about how culture works, and how different cultures should relate to one another. 

In hundreds of lectures and workshops from the Arctic Circle to Brazil and from the Middle East to China, he has advocated for the arts and humanities in a changing world.

At Harvard, he has instituted these ideas in a new program in theater, dance and media as well as in the Mellon School of Theater and Performance Research.

Among his prizes are a Guggenheim Fellowship, fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin and at the Cullman Center at the New York Public Library, the Berlin Prize, and the 2021 Humboldt Prize. He is a permanent member of the European Academy.- from the author's website.

I have his Culture: The Story of Us on my wish list.

Mel Ulm

 

Charlie Chan Goes to Paris - A 1935 Film directed by Lewis Seiler and Hamilton McFadden- starring Werner Oland and Mary Brian- from Fox Studios - running time 77 Minutes

 

Charlie Chan Goes to Paris - A 1935 Film directed by Lewis Seiler and Hamilton McFadden- starring Werner Oland and Mary Brian- from Fox Studios - running time 77 Minutes

This is part of my Participation in Paris in July 2023 -hosted by Words and Peace.

https://wordsandpeace.com/2023/06/30/paris-in-july-2023/#list

Chan is on his way back from completing the London case—they always mentioned the previous case in the next movie—to go on "vacation" to Paris, but this is just a way to make people think that he is innocently there. He is on a case for some London bankers and customers who say that some bonds from the Lamartine Bank in Paris are forged, so they hired Chan to solve the case. Chan is on his way to meet the new ward of the head of the Lamartine Bank, Paul. A blind man named Marcel Xavier comes up to him, and asks him for some change. After a police officer escorts Xavier away, Chan calls his assistant, Nardi, who promises to talk with him later about new information she found out. He meets with Victor Descartes, Mr. Lamartine's ward who is about to own the bank. Chan also meets Victor's friends: Max Corday, an alcoholic painter and his girlfriend, and Yvette Lamartine, the daughter of Mr. Lamartine. Victor tells Chan that Yvette is the special one: the two are engaged.

That night, Chan, Max and his girlfriend, Yvette, and Victor go to a cafe/club, where Nardi works as a dancer. After her performance, she is thrown into a room by her dance partner (part of the routine), where Marcel murders her by throwing a knife at her. Her last words to Chan instruct him to look in her apartment, where he finds a letter hidden in a cuckoo clock which explains that Albert is spending beyond his income.

As Chan leaves Nardi's house, Marcel throws a giant rock down in an attempt to kill him, which fails. He goes home and reveals his secret to Lee, his #1 son. That night, another attempt is made on Chan's life, this time with another thrown knife. However, Chan has outsmarted the culprit by throwing pillows onto his bed. The next morning, he interviews Paul Lamartine. As he is leaving, he sees Xavier making a scene, as he feels that the bank is cheating him out of his money. His escort gets him to leave, but not before he threatens everyone there. Chan instructs Lee to do some spy work around town. Chan is then accosted by his old friend, an inspector. They go and eat together.

Later, Victor drops Yvette off at her house. However, after Victor leaves, she goes to Albert's apartment to get some love letters, which she doesn't want Victor to see. Albert is seen calling a mysterious person, revealing that he is in the forging business. Unbeknownst to him, Marcel is secretly watching him through the window. Albert welcomes Yvette in. As he is about to give her the letters, he is shot by an unseen assailant. The other tenants rush up after Yvette screams. They believe her to be the murderer. She is jailed by the inspector, but Charlie points out an overlooked clue: footprints leading to Albert's room. They release Yvette.

That night, Charlie goes to the bank and asks the bank manager, Latouche, to give him Xavier's address. Afterwards, they catch Corday in the act of leaving town. Lee keeps Corday company while Charlie goes with Victor to Marcel's house. They are followed by Xavier as they make their way to the basement. Inside, they discover printing machines. Xavier comes in and shoots at Chan, but Chan is revealed to have blocked it. They capture Xavier as Lee and the police arrive. Charlie reveals that Xavier is the murderer, but he is not a real person. He has "Xavier" take off his false face. The murderer is revealed to be Latouche, as well as Corday. Chan goes into a summary of how they each became "Marcel" as so not to incriminate one another.

"The Charlie Chan movies have been criticized for being racist, particularly in their portrayal of Chinese stereotypes. For example, Chan is often portrayed as being wise but also superstitious and somewhat bumbling. He is also often depicted as being subservient to white characters.

"In recent years, there have been calls to retire the Charlie Chan character altogether. However, others argue that the character can be redeemed if he is portrayed in a more positive light. For example, the 2010 film The Forbidden Kingdom featured Jackie Chan as a wise and respected Chinese kung fu master.

Ultimately, whether or not the Charlie Chan movies are racist is a matter of opinion. However, it is important to be aware of the potential for racism in these films and to critically assess their portrayal of Chinese characters.

Here are some specific examples of racist stereotypes in the Charlie Chan movies:

• Chan is often portrayed as being short, bucktoothed, and having a thick accent.

• He is often depicted as being superstitious and gullible.

• He is sometimes shown as being subservient to white characters.

• The films often feature racist humor at Chan's expense.

It is important to note that not all of the Charlie Chan movies are racist. Some of the later films, such as The Chinese Parrot (1934) and Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936), are more positive in their portrayal of Chan. However, the earlier films in the series are more likely to contain racist stereotypes.

If you are considering watching a Charlie Chan movie, it is important to be aware of the potential for racism. You may want to choose a later film in the series that is less likely to contain racist stereotypes." From Bard 

In defense of the film, Mr. Chan is portrayed as highly intelligent and is treating with respect by his Paris contacts. I found the movie fun and exciting. 

I will next post upon a classic comedy The Merry Widow, 1935, Directed by the great Ernst Lubitsch.

Mel Ulm

The Return of The Scarlet Pimpernel- 1937- A British Film Produced by Alexander Korda - Set in Paris and London in 1794 - 116 minutes

 This is part of my Participation in Paris in July 2023

https://wordsandpeace.com/2023/06/30/paris-in-july-2023/

The film is set in 1794, during the Reign of Terror in France. Percy Blakeney (Barnes), the Scarlet Pimpernel, has been forced to flee to England after being exposed as the leader of a group of Englishmen who are rescuing French aristocrats from the guillotine. However, he is soon called back to France when his wife, Marguerite (Stewart), is captured by the French authorities.

Blakeney returns to France and sets out to rescue Marguerite. Along the way, he is joined by a young woman named Jeanne de Tournay (Scott), who is also seeking to rescue her family from the guillotine. Blakeney and Jeanne must use all of their cunning and courage to outwit the French authorities and rescue their loved ones.

The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its exciting action sequences, its lavish production values, and its performances. The film was also a box office success, grossing over $2 million at the time of its release.

The film is considered to be one of the best adaptations of the Scarlet Pimpernel novels. It is a well-made and exciting film that captures the spirit of the original novels. 

It was produced by Alexander Korda

Alexander Korda was a Hungarian-born British film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was one of the most important figures in the British film industry during the 1930s and 1940s. He was the founder of London Films, a major production company that produced many classic films, including The Private Life of Henry VIII, Rembrandt, Things to Come, The Thief of Baghdad, and The Third Man.

Korda was born in Hungary in 1893. He began his career in the film industry in Austria and Germany, before moving to Hollywood in 1926. He returned to Europe in 1930 and set up London Films in 1933. The company quickly became one of the most successful in Britain, and Korda was responsible for bringing many Hollywood stars to the UK, including Charles Laughton, Vivien Leigh, and Merle Oberon.

Korda was a flamboyant and visionary producer, and he was not afraid to take risks. He was one of the first producers to make films in color, and he was also a pioneer in the use of special effects. He was also a strong supporter of British talent, and he gave early breaks to many directors and actors who went on to become major figures in the British film industry, including Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, Laurence Olivier, and David Lean.

Korda was a highly influential figure in the British film industry, and his films helped to shape the course of British cinema. He was a master of historical epics, fantasy films, and thrillers, and his work continues to be admired.

I will next post upon Charlie Chan Goes to Paris, from 1935.

Mel Ulm

• 

The movie maybe viewed on YouTube 

The Scarlet Pimpernel- A 1934 British Film produced by Alexander Korda - Directed by Leslie Howard - Starring Merle Oberon, Leslie Howard and Raymond Massey

 

The Scarlet Pimpernel- A 1934 British Film produced by Alexander Korda - Directed by Leslie Howard - Starring Merle Oberon, Leslie Howard and Raymond Massey - 132 Minutes - B & W - Set in Paris during the rule of Robespierre and in London

This film maybe watched on Youtube

This is part of my Participation in 

Paris in July 2023

https://wordsandpeace.com/2023/06/30/paris-in-july-2023/

"They seek him here, they seek him there, / Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. / Is he in heaven? Or is he in hell? / That damned elusive Pimpernel!"

- Percy Blakeney

Soon after the start of the French Revolution, effete aristocrat Sir Percy Blakeney (Leslie Howard) is secretly the Scarlet Pimpernel, leading an underground group dedicated to freeing nobles from the brutal Robespierre. Blakeney plays his part so well that even his own wife, Marguerite (Merle Oberon), doesn't suspect him. Robespierre's agent, Chauvelin (Raymond Massey), learns that Marguerite's brother is one of the Pimpernel's group, and she begins working unknowingly to destroy her own husband.

I loved Leslie Howard as the Scarlet Pimpernel. The scenes among English aristocrats, including the Prince of Wales, were delightful. Robespierre was suitable evil. The French mobs cheering as aristocrats were guillotined depicted a very ugly aspect of the era. The ending is very gratifying.

Alexander Korda (September 16,1893 Turkeve, Hungary- January 23, 1953) founded London Films and is an important figure in British Cinematic History

I will next post on his 1937 Film Return of The Scarlet Pimpernel 

Mel Ulm

The Drowning Season by Alice Hoffman- 2014- 212 Pages

 The Drowning Season by Alice Hoffman- 2014 - 212 Pages

Alice Hoffman works I have read

The Marriage of Opposites- 2015

"Everything My Mother Taught Me" - 2016

"The Book Store Sisters" -2022

The Foretelling - 2006

"Conjure" - 2014

Aquamarine- 2001

The Ice Queen - 2006

Property Of -1977

Magic Lessons- 2020

Skylight- 2007

The Red Garden - 2011

The Drowning Season- 2014

"Esther the Black is eighteen years old and ready to leave the Compound, the collection of cottages on the North Shore of Long Island where she has lived all her life. But as July turns to August and her family braces for the height of Drowning Season, she realizes that she may not be able to escape her family’s legacy.

Her father will find a way through the locked sea-wall gate and try to drown himself in the harbor, her mother will be too hung over to leave her cottage for days at a time, and her grandmother will refuse to say a single kind word.  

Esther the White left home when she was just a girl, fleeing her abusive parents across a frozen Russian river with a pocketful of stolen jewels. Life has taught her to be cold and unyielding, but in the heat of another fraught summer at the Compound, she feels her resolve melting away. Cohen, the landscaper and chauffeur responsible for keeping her son out of the water, looks at her with a desire she finds harder and harder to resist. Her granddaughter’s name may be an insult to tradition, but does that mean the poor girl should never feel her grandmother’s love or know her story?" - From the Publisher 

This was not one of my favourite Alice Hoffman work. I liked it enough to finish The Drowning Season but from an unknown to me writer it might have been left Unfinished.

Here were my issues, maybe just trivial. I found the constant repetitive use of the names "Esther the Black" and "Esther the White" got tedious. I did not find any of the characters particularly interesting.  

The next of her works I will read is her just published The Invisible Hour.