French Literature

Some Camus questions here which reminds me that I’d probably put “L’Étranger” in my top ten novels of all time. What that says about me I’m not sure I want to find out…

Questions

A real-time-strategy video game coming out in 2000 being based on it, which creatures are featured in a trilogy of sci-fi novels by French writer Bernard Werber?

ANTS

Dying at the young age of 24 in 1870 and having a limited corpus that includes “Poésies”, what is the nom de plume of French writer Isidore Lucien Ducasse?

COMTE DE LAUTRÉAMONT

In which country was the French poet Comte de Lautréamont born during a civil war that lasted from 1839 to 1851? A siege of its capital was featured in Alexandre Dumas’ novel “The New Troy”.

URUGUAY

The Comte de Lautréamont only wrote two works, “Poésies” and which novel that features an immoral title character? The latter work had an influence on the surrealist movement.

LES CHANTS DE MALDOROR

In a poem by Stéphane Mallarmé, what follows ‘A Throw of the Dice’? It is particularly noted for its unusual form of presentation.

WILL NEVER ABOLISH CHANCE

Albert Camus introduces what philosophy in his essay “The Myth of Sisyphus”, this holding among its views that there is irrationality throughout the universe?

PHILOSOPHY OF THE ABSURD

Its French title being a translation of an address in Rome, with which novel did 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature winner Patrick Modiano take home the 1978 Prix Goncourt? Its two-word English title is quite different.

RUE DES BOUTIQUES OBSCURES / MISSING PERSON

In which ‘absurd’ Albert Camus play does a man return home to find his sister and mother don’t recognise him? He then decides to become a lodger with them under an assumed identity.

THE MISUNDERSTANDING / LE MALENTENDU

Seen as a sequel to “The Myth of Sisyphus”, in which Albert Camus book-length essay does he discuss figures such as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Fyodor Dostoevsky?

THE REBEL

Featuring a contemporary history of the Hundred Years’ War up to 1400, for which work is the medieval French-language writer Jean Froissart best known? There are extant copies featuring fantastic illustrations from that era.

CHRONICLES

Associated with the Oulipo movement, Hervé Le Tellier won the Prix Goncourt for which novel, the first time the award was presented by Zoom because of the ongoing Covid pandemic? It features planes and passenngers than inexplicably become duplicated.

L’ANOMALIE / THE ANOMALY

Not set in China, “The Mandarins” is a work that follows French intellectuals from the end of World War II until the mid-1950s. It won the 1954 Prix Goncourt for which writer?

SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR

Other than Puccini, which Naples-born composer has an opera called “La Bohème” based on the work of Henri Murger?

RUGGERO LEONCAVALLO

For what novel did André Malraux win the 1933 Prix Goncourt? Fred Zinnemann, Bernardo Bertolucci and Michael Cimino were all linked with a film adaptation of it but none completed their project.

MAN’S FATE / LA CONDITIONE HUMAINE

Forming a trilogy on revolutions in Asia with “The Conquerors” and “The Royal Navy”, André Malraux’s 1933 Prix Goncourt winning novel “Man’s Fate” is about the 1927 failed communist insurrection in which city?

SHANGHAI

Seen as a step towards the creation of Arsène Lupin, Fantômas and The Shadow, which 19th-century writer created the character Rocambole, in turn leading to the creation of the adjective ‘rocambolesque’?

PIERRE ALEXIS PONSON DU TERRAIL

France

I definitely struggle with early 19th century French history and it may well be that only a deep dive will help me to unpick these things consistly.

Questions

Having its capitals at Reims and Trier, which Roman province established in 22 BC after the Gallic Wars lasted until the 5th century?

GALLIA BELGICA

Stores by Jean-François Houbigant, Hermès and Coco Chanel among many other luminaries in the world of fashion can be found on which famous street in Paris? Part of its course runs parallel to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and it is also home to the British Embassy and Élysée Palace.

RUE DU FAUBOURG SAINT-HONORÉ

The Hôtel Carnavalet was home to 17th century female writer Madame de Sévigné, who provides the current name of its street. It now makes up part of the Musée Carnavalet that illustrates the history of Paris and can be found in which historical district of the city that lies north of the Seine, well known for its LGBT culture?

THE MARAIS

Lying south of Lake Geneva, which French department has its prefecture at Annecy and is home to Chamonix, the first host of the Winter Olympic Games?

HAUTE-SAVOIE

Home to Tour de France favourite Alpe d’Huez, which department along with Hautes-Alpes hosts Écrins National Park? It is named for a river that is a tributary of the Rhône, with its prefecture Grenoble lying on its banks.

ISÈRE

First performed during the Nazi occupation, which play by Jean Anouilh got its British première in 1949 with Vivien Leigh in the title role?

ANTIGONE

The seaside resort of Arachon south-west of Bordeaux can be found in which large forest? This natural area gives its name to a department that is the second largest in France, with its prefecture being the modestly sized Mont-de-Marsan.

LANDES

Its French title being “L’Alouette”, how is this translated into English to provide a 1952 Jean Anouilh play about Joan of Arc?

THE LARK

Pablo Picasso’s love interest Dora Maar was born in Paris to a Croatian architect with what surname, with her having taken part of this for the one by which she was well known?

MARKOVITCH / MARKOVIĆ

Known as Duke of Anjou since this title that was bestowed on him after his father’s death in 1989, Louis Alphonse de Bourbon is considered a pretender to the French throne by which group? They have used their current name since they rejected the claim of the July Monarchy in 1830.

LEGITIMISTS

French culture

Finally completed my run through the France page on Wikipedia. That leaves me with 155 countries still to go! While that is daunting, it does reap rewards occasionally. The question I wrote about Gaspar Noé led me to a correct answer that I would otherwise have definitely got wrong.

Questions

Having a logo that includes a stylised owl, which French luxury goods corporation has the prominent brands of Gucci, Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent under its umbrella? Its current name came into use in 2013 and is a nod to the Breton word for ‘home’.

KERING (The word being ‘ker’)

A rival of the weekly publication “La Tribune”, which French financial daily newspaper that was founded in 1908 by the Servan-Schreiber brothers is owned by LVMH, which in 2023 was listed as the most valuable company in Europe?

LES ECHOS

Forcibly closed following its mockery of Charles de Gaulle’s death, the satirical magazine “Hara-Kiri” was a precursor to which other magazine that takes part of its title from a longer French word ending in ‘madaire’, this carrying the meaning of ‘weekly magazine’?

CHARLIE HEBDO

A hebdomadaire like “Charlie Hebdo”, which magazine founded in 1915 gets its title from a French slang term for a newspaper and the renaming of Georges Clemenceau’s “L’Homme libre”? Interior minister Raymond Marcellin was forced to resign in 1974 after attempts to bug their offices went haywire, being replaced by Jacques Chirac.

LE CANARD ENCHAÎNÉ (The renaming was “L’homme Enchaîné”)

A fine accompaniment for meat and potatoes, what two-word term is used for an Alsatian delicacy that is similar to sauerkraut, with one difference being that it is usually cooked in wine?

CHOUCROUTE GARNIE

Olives, capers and anchovies are some of the love ’em or hate ’em ingredients which can make up which Provençal spread? Possible uses include as a stuffing, and of course a topping for the ubiquitous crusty baguette.

TAPENADE

Ever serious about their wine and cheese, what do the three letters AOC stand for that indicate a French product is authentically produced in a certain geographical area?

APPELLATION D’ORIGINE CONTRÔLÉE

Practitioners being called tireurs and tireuses, the French kickboxing sport of savate takes its name from an ‘old’ item of what piece of clothing?

SHOE / BOOT

Tokyo is due to host the 2025 version of the Olympics that are restricted to what kind of athletes, with Paris having hosted its first edition in 1924, the same year it held the first Winter Olympics? The only city to have been the summer venue for this event twice is Sofia.

DEAFLYMPICS

After winning the title in 2023, Paris Saint-Germain have won won more French football championships than any other club with 11. This sees them clear of which other club, whose 10th stint at the top came before PSG had even won one?

SAINT-ÉTIENNE

Louis VII and French cinema

A proof that Wikipedia doesn’t always deliver what’s required, the three paragraphs on the France page for ‘Cinema’ at the time of writing included references to two Georgian directors, three Polish ones and another two from Argentina. But no mention of Godard, Varda and many, many more.

Questions

His marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine being annulled in 1957, what nickname is often used for 12th-century King of the Franks Louis VII, this helping to distinguish him from the mass of other French kings with that name?

THE YOUNG / YOUNGER

During Louis VII’s participation in the Second Crusade he stayed at the court of which king of Hungary and Croatia who ruled from 1141 until his death in 1162? The son of Béla the Blind and second of his regnal name, he was challenged by Boris Kalamanos, who had sneaked into the French crusader army to have another go at claiming his right to the throne.

GÉZA II

An abbot and counsellor to Louis VII, which 12th-century figure who was also a notable historian worked on rebuilding parts of the Church of Saint Denis, thus becoming a pioneer for the huge influence that Gothic architecture had over the subsequent centuries?

ABBOT SUGER

Following his divorce from Eleanor of Aquitaine and the death of his second cousin Constance of Castile in childbirth, who was the third wife of Louis VII? She finally managed to deliver the longed-for male heir with Philip II’s birth in 1165.

ADELA OF CHAMPAGNE

The 1964 film “Becket” saw a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars for a portrayal of Louis VII by which British actor? Though he lost out to Peter Ustinov’s performance in “Topkapi”, he later won the category in 1982.

JOHN GIELGUD

Events depicted including the Constitutions of Clarendon, the 1959 play “Becket or The Honour of God”, the source material for the 1964 film “Becket”, was written by which French dramatist? His other works include “Antigone”, a play which premiered in 1944 that has been seen as an attack on Vichy France.

JEAN ANOUILH

Considered to be the only active female filmmaker at the start of the 20th-century, Alice Guy-Blaché was the subject of a 2018 documentary that had what two words as its main title, with the subtitle being “The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché”? Narration was provided by Jodie Foster.

BE NATURAL

A Polish filmmaker whose only English language film “Possession” saw Isabelle Adjani win Best Actress at Cannes, Andrezj Zuławski was in a relationship with which actress from 1985 to 2001? Her performances include the title role in a 1997 adaptation of “Anna Karenina” and Elektra King in “The World Is Not Enough”.

SOPHIE MARCEAU

His films “Irrèversible” and “Enter the Void” earning nominations for the Palme d’Or, which Argentine director was also responsible for the 2021 film “Vortex”, which features a notable performance by “Suspiria” director Dario Argento?

GASPAR NOÉ

Olivia de Havilland was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for 1948 film “The Snake Pit”, a work by which Kiev-born director? His other films include the Ingrid Bergman starring “Anastasia” and “Mayerling”, a film that saw French actor Charles Boyer play the role of Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf.

ANATOLE LITVAK

Alexandre Alexeieff and his wife Claire Parker are noted for their introduction of which animation technique in the 1930s, with a notable example of its use being in the title sequence for Orson Welles’ film “The Trial”? Their own films to use the technique included adaptations of “Night on Bald Mountain” and “The Nose”.

PINSCREEN

Based on an Edgar Allan Poe poem, “City Under the Sea” or “War-Gods of the Deep” was the final film of which French director? His other films include “I Walked with a Zombie”, which is perhaps unexpectedly a twist on the novel “Jane Eyre”.

JACQUES TOURNEUR

Le Lido & French music

I find it a shame when a venue ceases to be used for the purpose it became famous for, but I guess cabarets are on the way out. Not that I know anything about that sort of thing. There are a handful of rock bands here to discover, but investigate Gojira, Phoenix and Shaka Ponk as well if your Spotify list is crying out for my excellent taste…

Questions

Founded by Irish dancer Margaret Kelly, what is the name of the group of dancing girls that performed at Le Lido, a cabaret theatre that is located on the Champs-Élysées?

BLUEBELL GIRLS

Its brands including Mercure, Novotel and Ibis, which hospitality company took over ownership of Le Lido in 2021, subsequently turfing the Bluebell Girls out of the door as it temporarily closed the theatre so that a pivot could be made toward musicals?

ACCOR

A show called “Paris Merveilles” was brought to Le Lido by which Italian-born theatre director, who is credited with helping to develop “Cirque du Soleil” into the behemoth it is today? He was also behind the Celine Dion show “A New Day…”, which went on to become the most successful Las Vegas residency of all time.

FRANCO DRAGONE

French singer Hervé Vilard is best known for a song that contains the name of which island, with the song reaching number 2 in France and number 1 in Spain? The island is followed by “C’est Fini” in the title, this being influenced by a Charles Aznavour song of that name.

CAPRI (“Capri C’est Fini”)

Providing the voice for the villain Yzma in “The Emperor’s New Groove” and playing Catwoman in the 1960s TV series “Batman”, which American released the popular Christmas tune “Santa Baby” in 1953?

EARTHA KITT

Particularly popular during the ’50s and ’60s, Alice and Ellen are German twins whose work includes performing at Le Lido, singing at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest and posing for the Italian edition of “Playboy”. What is the surname they share with an American astrophysicist?

KESSLER

Alain Delon featured on what repetitively titled 1973 hit for Egyptian-born singer Dalida, which topped the French charts after being released on her 40th birthday?

PAROLES, PAROLES

An actress of Hungarian descent, Mitzi Gaynor received a Golden Globe nomination for playing which Navy nurse from Little Rock in the film “South Pacific”, this character having been created by James Michener in his Pulitzer Prize winning short story collection “Tales of the South Pacific”?

NELLIE FORBUSH

Its prelude being heard before Eurovision events get into full swing, “Te Deum” is a 17th-century work by which French composer?

MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER

Baroque French composer François Couperin is particularly associated with which instrument, having written four volumes of music for it as well as “L’art de toucher le clavecin” in 1717?

HARPSICHORD

A player of the viol de gamba, the Baroque composer Marin Marais was portrayed by both Gérard Depardieu and the actor’s son Guillaume in which 1991 film? It was adapted from a book by Pascal Quignard, who won the Prix Goncourt in 2002 with “Les Ombres errantes”.

TOUL LES MATINS DU MONDE / ALL THE MORNINGS IN THE WORLD

An organist at the court of King Louis XIV, Michel Richard Delalande is known for composing ‘Grand’ versions of what kind of musical composition that was originally performed ‘a capella’?

MOTET

Based on Jean Racine’s tragedy “Phédre”, the 18th-century work “Hippolyte et Aricie” was the first opera by which composer? Influenced by structures established by Jean-Baptiste Lully, he upset some critics when he put his own spin on things.

JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU

The source being a Georges Bernanos work of the same name, which opera by ‘Les Six’ member Francis Poulenc tells the story of a group of nuns who were guillontined in 1794 during the Reign of Terror?

DIALOGUE OF THE CARMELITES

Considered horrendously difficult to play, the Maurice Ravel piano pieces “Gaspard de la Nuit” were based on a collections of poems by which 19th-century Piedmont-born French writer, who unfortunately died of illness before their publication?

ALOYSIUS BERTRAND

A mentor of Jean Michel Jarre and a huge influence in the world of electronic music, which Nancy-born French composer coined the term ‘Musique concrète’, a type of music composition that uses recorded sounds?

PIERRE SCHAEFFER

The ‘Grand salle’ of the Philharmonie de Paris is named for which post-war French composer, who conducted the “Jahrhundertring” at the Bayreuth Festival in 1976 to celebrate the centenary of the first complete performance of Wagner’s “Ring Cycle”? His own original works include “Le marteau sans maître” and “Pli selon pli”, the latter using text written by Stéphane Mallarmé.

PIERRE BOULEZ

Providing the song “Les Lilas” for René Clair’s “Gates of Paris”, a film he also starred in, which French singer was also responsible for “Le Gorille”, where the title animal escapes his cage and ravishes a judge?

GEORGES BRASSENS

The song “Pépée” was a memorial to the pet chimpanzee of which Monégasque singer, who blamed its death following a fall on his wife? It will come as no surprise that they subsequently divorced.

LÉO FERRÉ

Going on to record the live album “Radio Bemba Sound System”, who was the lead singer of French band Mano Negra, whose albums included the suspicious sounding “Puta’s Fever”?

MANU CHAO

Taking their name from a 1953 film that starred Marilyn Monroe, which French rock band are known for the songs “Tchiki boum” and “L’amour à la plage”?

NIAGARA

Their work included “Singing in the Shower” with Sparks, despite water and electricity being a combination clearly to be avoided, which French band that contains a Guerlain perfume in their name hit number two in the French charts in 1984 with “Marcia Baïla”?

LES RITA MITSOUKO

With Jenn Ayache on vocals, which Roman sounding French rock band have seen their songs “Butterfly” and “Radio Song” featured in the “Fifa” and “Guitar Hero” video game series’ respectively?

SUPERBUS

French Philosophy

This is a subject that makes me feel like a 2CV that needs to be taken apart and rebuilt before it will even work in first gear.

Questions

A French philosopher who tried to synthesise the work of René Descartes and St. Augustine, Nicolas Malebranche is known for trying to demonstrate God’s active role in everything. One doctrine he is associated with suggests that mind and body can’t interact without the help of God, this being known by what term?

OCCASIONALISM

Having the unappealingly long sub-title of “In which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated”, in which work does René Descartes try to establish what we know for certain? It consists of six of the title events, which take place over the course of six days.

MEDITATIONS (ON FIRST PHILOSOPHY)

The separation of powers is an important concept in “The Spirit of Laws”, a work by which Frenchman who was an important figure in the Age of Enlightenment?

BARON DE MONTESQUIEU

An important figure in the development of French education, which 19th-century philosopher is considered to be the founder of modern ‘eclecticism’, with Scottish common sense realism having had a significant influence on that movement’s development?

VICTOR COUSIN

Credited with the concept of ‘Sociologie’, Auguste Comte is also known for developing which philosophical doctrine? This scientific path of thought focuses on what must be true, being known ‘a posteriori’ through experience.

POSITIVISM

Arguing that rejection of Christianity was partly responsible for the horrors of the French Revolution, which philosopher suggested that authority should ultimately lie with the Pope as a sovereign in his work “On the Pope”?

JOSEPH DE MAISTRE

Ordained a priest, and writer of “Essay on Indifference in Matters of Religion”, post-French Revolution intellectual Félicité de La Mennais was an advocate of which conception of the Catholic church that puts emphasis on the Pope’s powers? It stands in contrast to Gallicanism, where civil authority over the Catholic church trumps that of the Pope.

ULTRAMONTANISM

Winner of the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature, which French philosopher’s works include “Time and Free Will”, “Matter and Memory” and “Creative Evolution”, the latter based on the obsolete hypothesis of orthogenesis?

HENRI BERGSON

Writing the “Principia Mathematica” with his former student Bertrand Russell, which Ramsgate-born Englishman was known for process philosophy, which has been applied to various scientific disciplines? Henri Bergson was an influence.

ALFRED NORTH WHITEHEAD

Having done important work on the hairy ball and three body problems, which French philosopher of science who died in 1912 has been called ‘The Last Universalist’?

HENRI POINCARÉ

Gaston Bachelard introduced what two-word notion, which marks the point where a scientific theory overcomes an unconscious obstacle, with an example being the shift in Marxism from ideology to science? Wife strangler Louis Althusser also did significant work on this concept.

EPISTEMOLOGICAL BREAK / RUPTURE

Particularly associated with post-modernism, which French philosopher’s works include “Libidinal Economy”, a critique of Marxism, and works discussing Immanuel Kant that include “The Differend” and “Lessons on the Analytic of the Sublime”?

JEAN-FRANÇOIS LYOTARD

Making me think that every time I enter a Caffé Nero I could be in any Caffé Nero thanks to his “Simulacra and Simulation”, Jean Baudrillard wrote which collection of three essays whose title is a play on the Jean Giraudoux play “The Trojan War Will Not Take Place”?

THE GULF WAR DID NOT TAKE PLACE

Including analysis of the Velázquez painting “Las Meninas”, which work by French philosopher Michel Foucault carries the subtitle “An Archaeology of the Human Sciences”?

THE ORDER OF THINGS

Conciergerie

Despite having wandered about the Île de La Cité at least three times, I have still not paid enough attention to develop any context of what the Conciergerie actually is. A short set of 9 questions as my sentence.

Questions

The Conciergerie in Paris used to be part of which historic building that was once the residence of the kings of France? It is often known as the Palais de Justice because of its central role in the French judicial system, with the Court of Cassation having its seat here.

PALAIS DE LA CITÉ

The role of the Conciergerie changed from a royal residence during the reign of which French king from 1364 to 1380, who preferred the Louvre and Hôtel Saint-Pol? Known as ‘The Wise’, his successes in the Hundred Years’ War were not repeated by his son.

CHARLES V

Coming to be used as a prison, the Conciergerie featured what kind of ‘forgotten place’, which can be described as a dungeon with only one trap-door like entrance at the top? Hoggle in the film “Labyrinth” describes it as a place where “You put people – to forget about ’em”.

OUBLIETTE

What ‘angelic’ surname was shared by father and son Jacques and Ange-Jacques, two architects who were significant figures in 17th and 18th century France? The father worked on the Palace of Versailles, with the son being responsible for the Place de la Concorde.

GABRIEL

In 1792 a series of killings occurred in Paris which saw over 1,000 deaths, a significant proportion of which were of detainees in the Conciergerie. After which month are the massacres named?

SEPTEMBER

After being sentenced to death there, Marie Antoinette was taken from the Conciergerie to be executed in the Place de la Revolution, now known as what square?

PLACE DE LA CONCORDE

A poet born in Constantinople, which victim of the Reign of Terror who was imprisoned at the Conciergerie is the title subject of an opera by Umberto Giordano? Alexander Pushkin also wrote a poem about him.

ANDRÉ CHÉNIER

A prisoner at the Conciergerie who was executed in 1793, which mistress of Louis XV is the titular character of a 2023 film which sees Johnny Depp in the role of that French king?

JEANNE DU BARRY / MADAME DU BARRY

A French-Algerian actress and filmmaker who is most well known by a mononym, who directed and played the title role in the 2023 film “Jeanne du Barry” opposite Johnny Depp as Louis XV? A former wife of Luc Besson, her works “Polisse” and “Mon Roi” were both nominated for the Palme d’Or.

MAÏWENN

French Cinema

After shedding a tear watching “My Life as a Courgette”, I’ve had a scan through some old French cinema questions I’d written.

Questions

Which 1968 film by Claude Chabrol is loosely based on “The Talented Mr. Ripley”?

LES BICHES / THE DOES

Which actress was married to Jean-Louis Trintignant from 1954 to 1956 and Claude Chabrol from 1964 to 1980? She won a Silver Bear for her performance in “Les Biches”, and also starred in the 1970 film “Le Boucher” and 1987’s “Babette’s feast”.

STÉPHANE AUDRAN

Who directed the 1967 Golden Lion winning “Belle de Jour”, starring Catherine Deneuve in the title role?

LUIS BUNUEL

Which French novelist born in Argentina wrote the 1928 novel “Belle de Jour”? He also wrote a work that was adapted into the 1951 Humphrey Bogart film “Sirocco”.

JOSEPH KESSEL

Isabelle Adjani was nominated for an Oscar for which 1975 Francois Truffaut film?

THE STORY OF ADELE H

Isabelle Adjani was the first French woman to be nominated for a second Oscar for playing which role?

CAMILLE CLAUDEL

Which French director was responsible for the original 1942 version of “Cat People”? Among his other low budget horror films are “I Walked with a Zombie” and “The Leopard Man”.

JACQUES TOURNEUR

Who directed both “American Gigolo” and the 1982 version of “Cat People”, collaborating with Giorgio Moroder on both? He also wrote the screenplay for “Taxi Driver” and co-wrote the one for “Raging Bull”, finally garnering a first Oscar nomination for “First Reformed” in 2017.

PAUL SCHRADER

The Isabelle Huppert film “La Ceremonie”, was based on whose 1977 novel “A Judgement in Stone”, with the film echoing the case of Christine and Lea Papin, two French maids who brutally murdered their employer’s wife and daughter in 1933?

RUTH RENDELL

Taking its name from a Vermeer painting, the Isabelle Huppert film “The Lacemaker” is based on whose 1974 Prix Goncourt winning novel?

PASCAL LAINÉ

Starring Jean Gabin, what is the English title of Marcel Carne’s 1938 poetic realism film “Le Quai des brumes”?

PORT OF SHADOWS

In which 1937 poetic realism film by Julien Duvivier does Jean Gabin play a gangster on the run in Algiers, who believes that he is safe from arrest in the Casbah?

PÉPÉ LE MOKO

Which 1936 poetic realism film by Jean Renoir that stars Jean Gabin is based on a 1902 Maxim Gorky play?

LES BAS-FONDS / THE LOWER DEPTHS

Which 1938 poetic realism film by Jean Renoir stars Jean Gabin and is based on an Émile Zola novel?

LA BÊTE HUMAINE

Also responsible for the short film “The Genie in a Ravioli Can”, which Swiss director was responsible for the 2016 stop-motion animated feature “My Life as a Courgette” (or Zucchini), which was defeated by “Zootopia” when it was nominated for an Oscar?

CLAUDE BARRAS

Her films including the critically acclaimed “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”, which French director was a co-writer for Claude Barras’ “Life as a Courgette”?

CÉLINE SCIAMMA

France

You’d think I’d be able to come up with ‘Salic law’ as a logical guess, but no dice. But it provides a good excuse to review a rather large question set, including a question I got wrong about where I’m going in less than two weeks time.

Questions

What term is used for a trained companion, but not a healthcare professional, who can support a client through childbirth, failed pregnancies or even dying? The term was first used by Margaret Mead protegée Dana Raphael and comes from the Greek meaning ‘servant-woman’.

DOULA

Which 1929 Jean Cocteau novel concerns Elisabeth and Paul who isolate themselves from the world? It ultimately inspired the 2003 Bernardo Bertolucci film “The Dreamers”, with the book being illustrated by the author’s own drawings.

LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES

What is the name of the largest manufacturer of homeopathic products in the world, headquartered in France? One product is oscillococcinum which is supposed to relieve flu-like symptoms, but it is considered a placebo.

BOIRON

Which American impressionist painter’s most famous work is “In Flanders Field”, also known as “Coquelicots”? He is associated with the artist’s colony at Grez-sur-Loing, about 70km south of Paris.

ROBERT VONNOH

The Maison Carrée was a temple in which Roman city named for a Celtic god, known today as Nîmes?

NEMAUSUS

In 486 which king lost the Battle of Soissons, thereby losing the rump state the Kingdom of Soissons to Frankish rule under Clovis I?

SYAGRIUS

Being mentioned in “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” and “Walden”, which French explorer who conducted a scientific expedition around the world was killed when his ships wrecked on the reefs of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands?

COMTE DE LAPÉROUSE

Which French operation to contain ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been ongoing since 2014? The name comes from a wind that blows over Iraq and the Persian Gulf states.

OPERATION CHAMMAL

The Socialist party became the successor of which other left wing party in 1969 that had a six-word name?

FRENCH SECTION OF THE WORKERS INTERNATIONAL

The operation being carried out on Isabelle Dinoire who’d had her face mauled by a dog, who performed the first face transplant in 2005?

BERNARD DEVAUCHELLE

Also serving two spells as Prime Minister of France from 1880 to 1881 and 1883 to 1885, who is considered the founder of the modern French school?

JULES FERRY

There is a myth saying that his invention was used to record the voice of Abraham Lincoln, on whose phonautograph was “Au clair de la lune” the first piece of music to ever be recorded?

EDOUARD-LEON SCOTT DE MARTINVILLE

Known informally as ‘le zero neuf’ and named for a river, which département in Occitania is home to Montségur castle, alleged home to the Holy Grail?

ARIÈGE

The celebrated French actress Marguerite Moreno was the inspiration for which play by “Ondine” author Jean Giraudoux, which concerns an eccentric woman living in Paris?

THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT

Which play by Jean Giraudoux is based on the legend of Lucretia, set in 19th century Aix-la-Provence?

DUEL OF ANGELS

What four-word title of a 1927 Yves Tanguy painting on display in MOMA, comes from a psychiatric case history?

MAMA, PAPA IS WOUNDED!

Which 1995 film by Agnieszka Holland concerned the relationship between Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud? David Thewlis played Verlaine and Leonardo di Caprio played Rimbaud.

TOTAL ECLIPSE

With whom did ‘Founding father of palaeontology’ Georges Cuvier engage in an 1830 debate, with Cuvier taking the side against evolution?

GEOFFROY SAINT-HILAIRE

Named for the French telegraph engineer that invented it, what was the most common teleprinter code in use prior to ASCII?

BAUDET CODE

Used to determine the speed of communication over a data channel, the baud is a unit for what rate?

SYMBOL RATE or MODULATION RATE

Which first man of Polynesian mythology is featured on the unofficial Marquesas flag, first raised in 1980?

TIKI

What three colours appear with the Tiki design on the unofficial Marquesas flag?

WHITE, YELLOW, RED

With just over 2,000 people, which settlement on Nuku Hiva is the largest in the Marquesas?

TAIOHAE

Darcy’s law, that describes the flow of fluid through a porous medium, forms the basis of which branch of earth sciences?

HYDROGEOLOGY

Which female became French Prime Minister in May 2022? She is a member of both Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party and the centre-left Territories of Progress.

ÉLISABETH BORNE

Jordan Bardella took over from Marine Le Pen as leader of which party in 2022, that changed its name from the National Front in 2018?

NATIONAL RALLY

Basic principles of the French rule of law were laid by what 1804 code that is still in force, though there have been changes?

NAPOLEONIC CODE

Guy Canivet, the highest judge in France, became the president of which Court of Appeal in 2005, with other courts by this name appearing in countries as diverse as Greece, Senegal and the Vatican City?

COURT OF CASSATION

The basic principles that the French Republic must respect are laid out in which 1789 work with a very long ten-word title?

DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND OF THE CITIZEN

Known by a three-word Latin term, what type of law, that may criminalise actions that were legal when they were committed, is not permitted under French law?

EX POST FACTO

Established in 1799 by Napoleon, which governmental body acts as the supreme court for administrative justice? Lots of different countries use this three-word term, though not necessarily for similar purposes.

COUNCIL OF STATE

Having a six-word title, in what piece of literature must every law be published to be applicable?

JOURNEL OFFICIEL DE LA REPUBLIQUE FRANCE

Named after a member of the French Communist Party who was Minister of Transportation from 1997 to 2002, which 1990 Act prohibits holocaust denial?

GAYSSOT (ACT)

Containing as its members Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and the French overseas department of Réunion, the IOC stands for what?

INDIAN OCEAN COMMISSION

France has been a member of the South Pacific Commission since its inception in 1947, with this body now being known as what, after a name change in 2016?

PACIFIC COMMUNITY

A rival of Ansar Dine in the bid to control northern Mali, what acronym is used by a Tuareg group who declared the independence of Azawad in 2012?

MNLA

Which fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault has a meteorological name meaning ‘gust of wind’?

RAFALE

Nicknamed ‘les diables bleus’ from their blue uniforms and having a musical horn on their logo, what is an elite mountain infantry force of the French army?

CHASSEURS ALPINS

Which French battle tank is named in honour of the general who led the French element of the drive towards Paris in World War II? He was posthumously awarded the title of marshal in 1952, losing his life in a 1947 air crash over Algeria.

LECLERC

Formed in 1982 and also known by a four-letter acronym, what is the external French intelligence unit?

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL SECURITY / DGSE

What does CTBT stand for with regards to nuclear weapons, which France has signed and ratified, although key players like China and the United States have only done half a job, with India, North Korea and Pakistan not playing at all?

COMPREHENSIVE (NUCLEAR) TEST BAN TREATY

Now known as the Force de Dissuasion, the French nuclear deterrence was formerly known by what three-word term, nothing to do with Starbucks?

FORCE DE FRAPPE

Based at a port in Brittany, the French nuclear force consists of four submarines in what class, this having replaced the Redoutable class?

TRIOMPHANT

For pre-strategic use as a ‘warning shot’, what French nuclear missile is abbreviated to ASMP?

AIR-SOL MOYENNE PORTÉE

Prominently featured in the 2005 French film “Sky Fighters”, which Dassault aircraft will the Rafale replace, currently equipped to carry France’s nuclear missiles?

MIRAGE (2000N)

What does SEM stand for in the nuclear equipped flying machines aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier?

SUPER ÉTANDARD MODERNISÉ

With France being a part of this initiative, unlike with the Eurofighter Typhoon, what name does the Eurocopter attack helicopter have?

TIGER

More familiar to the wider public as a drone, what does UCAV stand for?

UNMANNED COMBAT AIR VEHICLE

Named for something you would find lots of in the human body, what experimental UCAV is being developed by Dassault?

NEURON

Having its maiden flight in 2009, what name from Greek mythology does the military transport Airbus 400M carry?

ATLAS

What French term is given to an economic doctrine where the state plays a strong role as opposed to a merely regulatory interventionist role over a capital market economy?

DIRIGISME / DIRIGISM

Which medieval chateau in the Vosges mountains of Alsace is a major tourist draw, bringing in over 500,000 visitors a year? It was confiscated by the French after World War I and parts of “La Grande Illusion” were shot here.

HAUT-KOENIGSBOURG

Located in the same town where Leonardo da Vinci died, at which château overlooking the Loire did Italian War instigator King Charles VIII die after hitting his head on a door lintel in 1498?

CHÂTEAU D’AMBOISE

Charles Perrault often visited which castle that lies on the edge of the Chinon forest, having it in mind when writing “Sleeping Beauty”?

CHÂTEAU D’USSÉ

Which château did Alexandre Dumas write about in the second part of his Renaissance trilogy, with the first novel being “La Reine Margot”?

MONTSOREAU (The novel is “La Dame de Monsoreau”)

Which French pioneer of the architectural use of reinforced concrete designed a post-war train station and tower in Amiens? He is particularly noted for his reconstruction of Le Havre, the work now being a World Heritage Site.

AUGUSTE PERRET

Clearly suggestive of a neighbouring country, what speciality of Picardy is a pastry tart filled with leek and cream?

FLAMICHE

Having a reputation as a strict disciplinarian, by what nickname is Napoleonic military commander Louis-Nicolas Davout known? His name was commonly mis-spelt and this was overlooked when inscribing the Arc de Triomphe.

THE IRON MARSHAL (The mis-spelling is ‘Davoust’)

Created by Essilor in 1959, what was the world’s first varifocal lens to correct presbyopia?

VARILUX

With his most well known work probably “Le jeune homme et la mort” which had a libretto written by Jean Cocteau, who was the choreographer of the 1949 ballet “Carmen”, a role strongly associated with Zizi Jeanmaire?

ROLAND PETIT

During which battle did Vercingetorix defeat the Romans, apparently because Caesar’s order to retreat wasn’t heard by all his troops, thereby failing to lure Vercingetorix off the high ground?

GERGOVIA

What is France’s leading source of renewable energy, accounting for 13% of electricity production?

HYDROPOWER

French catholic priest Urbain Grandier was burned at the stake in the 17th century following what notorious witchcraft trial? It was possibly a politically motivated persecution led by the powerful Cardinal Richelieu.

LOUDON POSSESSIONS

Oliver Reed portrayed Urbain Grandier in which 1971 film directed by Ken Russell? One of the most controversial films of all time, it was banned in several countries.

THE DEVILS

Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 film “The Devils” was part adapted from the 1952 non-fiction work “The Devils of Loudon” by which author?

ALDOUS HUXLEY

At Béziers in the Hérault department, the Canal du Midi passes over what aqueduct that allows boats to avoid the unpredictable river it crosses, with which the aqueduct shares its name?

ORB

The Cize-Bolozon viaduct crosses what gorge and river, which gives its name to the departement that has Bourg-en-Bresse as its capital?

AIN

Which French-Belgian high speed train operator’s original purpose was to run on the route from Paris to Brussels, now being a prominent name around the north of France and its surrounding countries?

THALYS

Which cable-stayed road bridge is a motorway toll bridge and the last ‘pont’ to cross the Seine before it empties into the ocean?

PONT DE NORMANDIE

Le Corbusier’s World heritage listed Villa Savoye can be found in which city, situated in the western suburbs of Paris whose inhabitants are known as Pisciacais?

POISSY

Which theatre situated in the Pigalle district that specialised in naturalistic horror shows closed its doors in 1962, though its building is still standing?

GRAND GUIGNOL

Which French singer and songwriter released a track called “Pigalle”, though she is much better known for her runner-up performance with “Voila” at Eurovision?

BARBARA PRAVI

Which French physicist who has a type of Dynamics and Equation named for him, also took out a patent for an ultrasonic submarine detector? He is also known for setting up an anti-Fascist organisation and being held under house arrest by the Vichy government for most of World War II.

PAUL LANGEVIN

Which French virologist was a joint recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine with Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and German Harald zur Hausen for his discovery of HIV? During Covid-19 he promoted the conspiracy theory that the pandemic virus was deliberately created and escaped from a laboratory, drawing criticism for using his Nobel status irresponsibly.

LUC MONTAGNIER

Which French doctor is most famous for the 1998 hand transplant of Clint Hallam, also assisting Bernard Devauchelle on the 2005 face transplant of Isabelle Dinoire?

JEAN-MICHEL DUBERNARD

What surgery was first performed by a team of surgeons led by Jacques Marescaux in 2001, even though they were on the other side of the Atlantic ocean?

TELESURGERY

What French company founded in 1980 was the world’s first commercial launch service provider? Perhaps surprisingly it offers Soyuz launches from Baikonur, as well as others from French Guiana.

ARIANESPACE

Also known by a four-letter acronym, which French space agency is the third oldest in the world?

CNES / CENTRE NATIONAL D’ÉTUDES SPATIALES

Based in Grenoble, what is Europe’s leading nanotechnology research centre?

MINATEC

Known by a two-word shapely term, what is the neighbourhood of Grenoble that contains a significant number of research centres, including the Institut Laue-Langevin?

POLYGONE SCIENTIFIQUE

Also known by a four-letter acronym, what is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject aimed at creating energy by replicating, on Earth, the fusion processes of the Sun?

ITER / INTERNATIONAL THERMONUCLEAR EXPERIMENTAL REACTOR

If you see a portrait photograph of a famous person from Third Republic France, it was probably taken by which 19th century French photographer known by a pseudonym, who sought to elevate photography to an art? He was also a big fan of hot air balloons.

NADAR

Examples of which neoclassical architectural style popular during the mid-19th century include features on the Palais Garnier, Grand Palais and New York’s Grand Central Station, being named for a specific art school in France?

BEAUX-ARTS

With 20% of the island’s measly population of 9,000 speaking Tahitian, of what island is Vaitape the capital?

BORA BORA

After Pierre Laval’s 1931 Socialist government fell in 1932, he later joined which Prime Minister’s short-lived 1934 government, a person who had previously held the presidency from 1924 to 1931?

GASTON DOUMERGUE

Again becoming Prime Minister in 1935, Pierre Laval was forced to resign following his handling of what event, widely denounced as appeasement to Benito Mussolini?

ABYSSINIA CRISIS

Also known as Lac Gris or Lac d’Aix, Lac du Bourget is the deepest lake located entirely in France and is situated at the southern end of the Jura Mountains in which department, that has Chambéry as its prefecture?

SAVOIE

Located in the Vieux Port at 25 Quai de Rive Meuve, Marseille has a museum dedicated to what product that has among its ingredients olive oil?

SOAP

Containing three geographical areas, which modern French region contains the cities of Lyon, Grenoble, Clermont-Ferrand and Saint-Etienne?

AUVERGNE-RHÔNE-ALPS

Containing three geographical areas, which modern French region contains the cities of Marseille, Toulon and Nice?

PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D’AZUR

Toulouse and Montpellier can be found in which modern French region with a one-word name?

OCCITANIA

Bordeaux can be found in which modern French region which has two words in its name?

NOUVELLE-ACQUITAINE

Strasbourg and Nancy can be found in which modern French region that was provisionally called the horrible sounding Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine?

GRAND EST

Tours and Orléans can be found in which modern French region, containing two geographical areas in its name?

CENTRE-VAL DE LOIRE

Containing three words in its title, which is the only one of France’s modern regions that does not contain one of the country’s twenty largest cities?

BOURGOGNE-FRANCHE-COMTÉ

Which two areas are exceptions to the rule of laïceté, where Lutheranism, Catholicism and Judaism enjoy official status and state funding?

ALSACE AND MOSELLE

Primary education in France consists of what two phases?

NURSERY & ELEMENTARY / MATERNELLE & ÉLÉMENTAIRE

In France, which stage of secondary education comes before the lycée?

COLLÈGE

What National Diploma do students receive at the end of collège, with the baccalaureate being one of the qualifications that can be received at the end of the lycée?

(DIPLÔME NATIONAL DU) BREVET

Higher education is divided between public universities and what prestigious and selective bodies that includes Sciences Po Paris for political studies, HEC Paris for economics and Polytechnique?

GRANDES ÉCOLES

Also known as ‘the Catholic’ and ‘of Valois’, what other epithet has been given to King Philip VI of France, who reigned from 1328 to 1350?

THE FORTUNATE

Known as ‘the Good’, which king succeeded Philip VI of France, ruling until 1364 with events during his reign including getting captured at the 1356 Battle of Poitiers?

JOHN II

Commonly known as Turenne, this Marshal General of France came to prominence by capturing which fortress during the Thirty Years’ War in 1638?

BREISACH

Marshal General of France Turenne was killed by a cannonball at which 1675 battle of the Franco-Dutch War that took place in Baden-Württemberg?

SALZBACH

Which World Heritage Site is characterised by its cultural landscape of a marae, the courtyard of a Maori meeting house, and lies on the second largest of the Society Islands in French Polynesia?

TAPUTAPUATEA

Constituting the largest chain of atolls in the world, which French Polynesian archipelago has Rangiroa as its largest atoll?

TUAMOTU (ARCHIPELAGO)

What is the second largest of the Society Islands after Tahiti, part of French Polynesia and home to the Taputapuatea World Heritage Site?

RAIATEA

Including Mangareva as its largest island, which group of islands in French Polynesia is named for a British Admiral of the Fleet?

GAMBIER ISLANDS

The creation of what governmental department in 1959 has helped preserve the cultural heritage of the country?

MINISTRY OF CULTURE

Which style of French painting and sculpture takes its name from the type of institutions which practised Neoclassicism and Romanticism?

ACADEMISM

An example of his paintings being “The River Seine at Chatou”, which French painter was along with Henri Matisse and André Derain one of the leading Fauvists?

MAURICE DE VLAMINCK

Lying on the Île de la Cité, Saint Chapelle was commissioned by which King of France?

(SAINT) LOUIS IX

A property of the Counts of Anjou, at which French chateau located on the river Vienne did Henry II of England die in 1189?

CHINON

Situated in Toulouse and named for a saint, what is the largest Romanesque church in Europe?

SAINT SERNIN BASILICA

How did the architectural style known as ‘Opus Francigenum’ or ‘French work’ become better known?

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE

Also known for Place Vendôme and the Grand Trianon at Versailles, which French baroque architect designed the domed chapel at Les Invalides?

JULES HARDOUIN MANSART

The Arc de Triomphe and Sainte Marie-Madeleine are example of what style of architecture that originated with Napoleon?

EMPIRE STYLE

Which 19th century architect is known for his restoration work on sites like Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle and Carcassonne?

EUGÈNE VIOLLET-LE-DUC

Which viaduct constructed by Gustave Eiffel in the Massif Central was used as the bridge of impending doom in the 1976 film “Cassandra’s Crossing”?

GARABIT VIADUCT

Which Bordeaux-born architect’s work includes numerous airports such as Charles de Gaulle, the arch of La Defense and the National Grand Theatre of China?

PAUL ANDREU

Also one of the leaders of the minor Crusade of 1101, which noble writer of Occitan is the earliest known troubadour, unsurprisingly coming to be known as ‘the Troubadour’?

WILLIAM IX (DUKE OF AQUITAINE)

Also known as the Carolingian Cycle, what three-word term is used for the body of literature and legends associated with the history of France?

MATTER OF FRANCE

His works including “Sonnets pour Hélene” and “Les Amours”, which French 16th century poet was named the ‘prince of poets’, with a rose cultivar being named for him?

PIERRE DE RONSARD

A reference to a group of seven Alexandrian poets from the 3rd century BC, which poetry movement was founded by Pierre de Ronsard and Jacques de Bellay?

LA PLÉIADE

Adapted into the 1999 Manoel de Oliveira film “The Letter”, which 1678 novel was published anonymously by Madame de la Fayette, it being one of the first psychological novels?

LA PRINCESSE DE CLÈVES

Who is one of the most famous fabulists of all time, writing works like “The Ant and the Grasshopper” in the 17th century?

JEAN DE LA FONTAINE

Dying before his 14th birthday, which son of Emperor Claudius is thought to have been poisoned on the order of Nero as he was seen as a rival claimant to the throne? Jean Racine wrote a play named for him.

BRITANNICUS

“Jacques the Fatalist” and “Rameau’s Nephew” are 18th century philosophical novels by which writer, who was disowned by his father when he decided to become an author?

DENIS DIDEROT

In philosophy, what term is used for intellectual practices that deliberately present information in an abstruse manner to prevent further inquiry?

OBSCURANTISM

The preface for which Victor Hugo play that is named for a significant 17th century figure is considered to be the manifesto for the Romantic movement?

CROMWELL

First compiled around 500 AD, the code of law known as the Salic law was introduced by which first Frankish king?

CLOVIS I

From the French for ‘paternal kinsman’ and also known as patrilineal, what kind of succession features in Salic law that means inheritance descends from the original title holder through males only?

AGNATIC

Kavinsky

A completely new artist for me, but managing to connect this to “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death from Above”, a song I quite like, made this a worthwhile road trip.

Questions

Being compared to the likes of Daft Punk, what is the name of the song for which French musician Kavinsky achieved mainstream success in 2010, including reaching number 10 on the French charts, being followed by a number 12 hit called “Roadgame”?

NIGHTCALL

Kavinsky achieved mainstream success with “Nightcall” thanks to it featuring in what 2011 film based on a 2005 James Sallis novel, which has its only Oscar nomination in the sound editing category?

DRIVE

With the real name Luísa Matsushita, which performer whose genres include ‘electroclash’ was featured on the Kavinsky song “Nightcall”, her stage name indicating a fondness for a certain animal?

LOVEFOXXX

Lovefoxx is the lead singer of which Brazilian indie band that is known by an acronym, which them reaching number 39 in the UK charts with “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death from Above”?

CSS / CANSEI DE SER SEXY

Reaching number 2 on the French charts, which album by Kavinsky is named for a 1980s arcade game and features the songs “Nightcall” and “Roadgame”?

OUTRUN