Arthur Gobineau (1816–82) was a French aristocrat and man of letters who became famous for developing the racialist theory of the Aryan master race in his book
3
Some people claim that “eating the carpet” is a German expression similar to “eating one’s hat” in English or French, and that the foreign reporters at the time were wrong to take the phrase literally. However, I’ve made inquiries and can find no evidence whatsoever that such an expression exists. —L.B.
4
Belote is a popular French card game. Tino Rossi (1907–83) was a famous French singer and movie idol.
5
Paul Eluard (1895–1952) was a French surrealist poet. Elsa Triolet (1896–1970) was a French writer of Russian origin who fought in the French Resistance alongside her husband, Louis Aragon.
6
Klaus Barbie (1913–91) was a Gestapo member and war criminal known as the Butcher of Lyon. Paul Touvier (1915–96) was head of the Lyon militia. Maurice Papon (1910–2007) was a French politician later condemned for complicity in crimes against humanity during the Second World War.
7
The raid on the Velodrome d’Hiver took place on July 16–17, 1942, and involved the arrests of 13,152 Jews, including 5,802 women and 4,051 children. They were sent to concentration camps. Only 25 people survived.
8
