By meeting, we meet adventurers (Henri Monfreid), the "middle" of the wars with its figures, its codes, desert, warplanes (First World War, to foreign security officer - Russian and World War II, Free French officer), sea, Ireland insurgents, the son of Tolstoy, his gypsy friends, the songs, the night clubs, the rants, fighting, Humphrey Bogart, From Gaulle, and all these strangers, the Fat Albert, Raph, Sonia ... and the stories of men and women of exception. No superficiality in the dialogs, in the stories. Nothing. Kessel book entirely and speaks only what he loves passionately; the Other in the affirmation of his personality.
Thus about Andrew Bers, Russian count, emigrated to France:
"But what I know is that this man, I could still see the tears, had never left disrespect by anyone. That among those who had accepted the destiny without bending his back, he was the more worthy. The most proud of. The most indomitable.
Some Russians in exile, debased, degraded, had become servile. And those knelt to beg a glass of champagne.
But the others who had kept intact their sense of honor, it was André Bers prevailing. On the Cossacks, the gypsy, he had immense authority. Because of its allure. Because of his bravery. "(P.227).
The reader will be deeply moved to share the passions of Kessel, served by an alert writing earned him becoming a member of the French Academy.
What a man! Many features are common with Hemingway (who was a friend of his). So do not hesitate to purchase this magnificent work. "Friend, do you hear ..." - the first words of the famous "Song of the Partisans" he wrote a draft, an afternoon in London at war with his nephew Maurice Druon, also FFL - invite deepen our relationship with Kessel. What an honor!
