Keyword: letters

Dear Mr President: when letters to François Hollande announced France's current social unrest

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A photomontage sent to François Hollande: "Here lies my salary, born at the beginning of the month and already dead on the 10th." © DR A photomontage sent to François Hollande: "Here lies my salary, born at the beginning of the month and already dead on the 10th." © DR

During his 2012-2017 term in office, France’s socialist president François Hollande received a total of about one million letters and emails from members of the public, several thousands of which have been studied by political sciences lecturers Michel Offerlé and Julien Fretel. In this interview, Michel Offerlé explains that while the correspondence contained a large number of individual demands for help, complaints over financial difficulties and taxes, and insults about the head of state’s disconnection with the people, they in part collectively represent the social group that has erupted into the ‘yellow vest’ protest movement over falling standards of living which is shaking the current presidency of Emmanuel Macron.

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Love letters from Mitterrand to his mistress captivate France

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The collection of letters from former French president François Mitterrand to his mistress Anne Pingeot has caused excitement in French media.

Scientists unravel Marie Antoinette's 'love letters' to Swedish count

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French researchers using new technology unmask romantic letters between C18th French queen and Axel de Fersen which were censored by ink stains.

'My iPod is broken. I want to come back' writes French jihadist

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Another jihadist complains that 'they make me do all the washing' as grim reality of life in Syria sinks in for young French Islamist recruits.

WWII letters from occupied France show morale-boosting role of BBC

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A book published in France reveals a forgotten cache of letters sent secretly to the BBC and which illustrate its role in French civil resistance.