Frenchmen share stories of Normandy invasion
Lincy George
Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: News
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More than 50 students and off-campus visitors converged in upstairs Haggar to commemorate the 60th anniversary of D-Day and the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II.
Philippe Guinet, French dramatic artist, and Jacques Grelley, Normandy resident at the time of the invasion, spoke at the event.
Guinet read letters from American soldiers at Normandy, some of whom died on the battlefield; selections from speeches by Winston Churchill, former British prime minister; and selections from testimonies of French civilians.
The selections came from works such as La Travérse de la Nuit by Geneviève de Gaulle Anthonioz, the niece of Charles de Gaulle, resistance leader and French president after World War II; Histoire Extraordinaire de Jour le Plus Long by Philippe Bertin; Paroles du Jour by Jean Pierre Guenot; Le Premier Accroc Coûte Deux Cents Francs by Elsa Trilote; and Les Hauteurs de la Ville by Emmanuel Roblès.
Guinet has performed throughout Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, on many diverse topics ranging from hospice care to South African authors, capital punishment, and the writer/traveler.
Guinet is the editor of Editions du Laquet and president and founder of the Association des Passeurs de Mots (Association of Word Ferrymen/ Passers of Words). In the introduction to his performance, he said he wants to promote French language and literature.
Dr. Dannah Edwards, assistant French professor, said Guinet's listeners choose his subjects for him, and he extensively researches each subject.
Vicky Errington, former president of the North Texas French Alliance, said "his passion is for the spoken word." Errington is a long time friend of Guinet.
UD's French department was able to host him with the help of the North Texas French Alliance and Errington.
Guinet's whole performance was in French.
Sophomore Mark Landreneau appreciated the performance.
"Solid dramatic stories-a little long but good. I speak it [French] well enough to understand it but after awhile it takes a lot of concentration," he said.
Philippe Guinet, French dramatic artist, and Jacques Grelley, Normandy resident at the time of the invasion, spoke at the event.
Guinet read letters from American soldiers at Normandy, some of whom died on the battlefield; selections from speeches by Winston Churchill, former British prime minister; and selections from testimonies of French civilians.
The selections came from works such as La Travérse de la Nuit by Geneviève de Gaulle Anthonioz, the niece of Charles de Gaulle, resistance leader and French president after World War II; Histoire Extraordinaire de Jour le Plus Long by Philippe Bertin; Paroles du Jour by Jean Pierre Guenot; Le Premier Accroc Coûte Deux Cents Francs by Elsa Trilote; and Les Hauteurs de la Ville by Emmanuel Roblès.
Guinet has performed throughout Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, on many diverse topics ranging from hospice care to South African authors, capital punishment, and the writer/traveler.
Guinet is the editor of Editions du Laquet and president and founder of the Association des Passeurs de Mots (Association of Word Ferrymen/ Passers of Words). In the introduction to his performance, he said he wants to promote French language and literature.
Dr. Dannah Edwards, assistant French professor, said Guinet's listeners choose his subjects for him, and he extensively researches each subject.
Vicky Errington, former president of the North Texas French Alliance, said "his passion is for the spoken word." Errington is a long time friend of Guinet.
UD's French department was able to host him with the help of the North Texas French Alliance and Errington.
Guinet's whole performance was in French.
Sophomore Mark Landreneau appreciated the performance.
"Solid dramatic stories-a little long but good. I speak it [French] well enough to understand it but after awhile it takes a lot of concentration," he said.