Anyway, this book tells some of the stories of the more well known Americans out of the about the 5,000 who remained after the Germans took over the city. I understand there were those who sympathized with the Nazis, those who did nothing during that time, and those that were active in the resistance. Josephine Baker was in the resistance.
One of the more interesting stories I ever read about was Edith Piaf, a tiny - 4'10" singer who became quite famous in France prior to the war. France referred to her as "their little sparrow". The Germans knew her well, and loved hearing her sing. So, she made arrangements to perform for the prisoners in the camps. Each time, she would talk the Germans in charge into allowing her to take group photos of the prisoners after the performances. Some of the German guards were also in the pictures.
She would then take the photos to the counterfeiters. They would use the photos, single out certain prisoners in them and create documents needed to exist on the outside. Then, when Edith would go back for another performance, she would smuggle the documents in with her. At the end of the show, she, her entourage, and the prisoners with the documents, dressed accordingly, would leave the camp. Had she ever been caught she would have been immediately executed.
She was an interesting and amazing woman. Her life, minus her part in the war, is documented in the movie "La Vie En Rose", which starred Marion Cotillard. She won the Academy Award - Best Actress - several years back for her performance. We saw the movie, and she was amazing, even pushing her hair line back to look more like Edith.
Edith Piaf did not have an easy life. She was abandoned by her mother. When her father left to fight in WW I, she was dropped off at a house of ill repute where she stayed until she was around 9 or ten. During her stay there, she had an infection in her eyes and was declared legally blind. This lasted for three years.
Her father appeared one day and took her back, not because he cared about her, but because he wanted to use her in his act as a street musician. Over the course of her life, she was a prostitute, into alcohol and drugs, and died at the age of 47 from tuberculosis. The movie is really good, but emotionally draining.
I saw where it was snowing in Paris again. Wish I were there to enjoy it. Shakespeare and Company have some interesting authors appearing there this year.
Today is grocery day, and tonight, movie night. Tonight we will see "It's Complicated".
The weather pundits are talking about the possibility of another storm next weekend. but that is a long way off. I did see on the radar this morning where it was snowing in Florida. Definitely this is a cold winter. I hope we do get a lot of snow next weekend! I guess we'll see.
