I had an enjoyable conversation with a dear friend recently. She is quite a character: formerly a hard-nosed entrepreneur and sparkling Monaco socialite, she began life as the youngest daughter in a prominent French family. After a rigorous and no nonsense education at a Swiss boarding school, circumstances abruptly dropped the centuries-old family estate in … More The Dangers of Comfort
One of the fascinating aspects of life here in France is the mystique of life on a French chateau. The phrase conjures up visions of verdant landscapes, towering stone turrets, the portraits of ancestors lining wood-paneled corridors, sipping a glass of champagne near a huge, roaring fireplace. A life of privacy, privilege, and ease. That’s … More The French Chateau: Myth and Reality
“We have given our best attempts to democratic practices here over the years, with monarchs at the start and tyrants in between. As a family, we have had our ‘run of the town’ and been run out of town. People don’t remember the good you did for them when they’re part of a mob. You … More Old Money: In Their Own Words
The nonverbal communications embedded in French culture are a never-ending source of fascination for me here in Paris. Because I’m not fluent enough in French to catch certain subtle, revealing turns of phrase, I miss that part of the ‘delivery’ that might carry double entendres or hidden gems of humor in conversation. I do, however, … More Message in a Buckle
It’s been a busy few weeks with work on (and delays with) the new book, interest in our film and television projects from London, and an unexpectedly ramped up social calendar. Last week, the socializing whirlwind found me sitting next to a young French aristocrat. He was perfectly polite and casually dressed. Open, informed, and … More Conversation with the Aristocrat