18.2.19

Clemenceau's slippers


I made (again) a visit to the Clemenceau Museum. It’s a small museum in the 16th arrondissement, actually the rather modest flat that Clemenceau occupied as from 1896 until his death in 1929. You have the feeling that nothing has changed, that everything is exactly as it was when he lived there.

Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) is one of the most remarkable men in French history. Medical doctor, writer, journalist… but especially politician (Prime Minister during WWI). This is not the place to write his complete biography, you can find it e.g. here.  A lot of positive things can be said about him, but as with all of us, maybe also something negative. The major criticism concerns perhaps his being too uncompromising against Germany during the Peace Conference in 1919, which is often considered by many to be a major reason for what happened in Germany during the 1920’s and 30’s.  But, there are many positive things to be said about him, including on social (8 hours’ working days …), religious (separation state / church…) and cultural (great friend of artists, especially Monet) matters and he was also a great defender of Dreyfus.

I would dream of having a desk, a writing and working table like this.

A little look at the bedroom, the dining room… all quite modest, those days, for such a personality.  

4 comments:

claude said...

Il y a des personnage comme Clémenceau à qui on doit beaucoup. Ce n'est pas pour rien qu'on l'appelait "le Père de la Nation".
J'aime bien la forme de son bureau.

Jeanie said...

Thank you, Peter. I know NOTHING about Clemenceau (apart from his name) and he sounds fascinating. Like you, I would LOVE having that desk!

Anonymous said...

There is a book of Revelation in every one's life, as there is in the Bible. M. Clémenceau read his in those bitter hours:"You are neither cold nor hot? Would that you were either cold or hot!"
In such time of darkness, for the sake of his beloved France, being lukewarm was not an option for this great stateman.
I don't blame M. Clémenceau one little bit for his feelings towards Germany.........

Thank you, Peter
Maria

joanna said...

M. Clémenceau is certainly well worthy of further of inspection and study.
Yes his ( Clemenceau) modest abode is quite lovely, and Yes Peter the desk is an inspirationally piece for writing - reading - and correspondence.
Thanks you for this post, great photos and interesting read.