A letter from Paris: a true story of hidden art, lost romance, and family reclaimed

Description

When Louisa Deasey receives a message from a Frenchwoman called Coralie, who has found a cache of letters in an attic, written about Louisa's father, neither woman can imagine the events it will set in motion. The letters, dated 1949, detail a passionate affair between Louisa's father, Denison, and Coralie's grandmother, Michelle, in post-war London. They spark Louisa to find out more about her father, who died when she was six. From the seemingly simple question Who was Denison Deasey? follows a trail of discovery that leads Louisa to the libraries of Melbourne and the streets of London, to the cafes and restaurants of Paris and a poet's villa in the south of France. From her father's secret service in World War II to his relationships with some of the most famous bohemian artists in post-war Europe, Louisa unearths a portrait of a fascinating man, both at the epicentre and the mercy of the social and political currents of his time. This book is about the stories we tell ourselves, and the secrets the past can uncover. A compelling tale of inheritance and creativity, loss and reunion, it shows the power of the written word that crosses the bridges of time.;Intro; About the Author; Title Page; Copyright Page; Dedication; Epigraph; Contents; Melbourne, Australia; Part One; 1 Disparu; 2 Souvenir; 3 Voyageur; 4 La peine; Part Two; 5 Serpents; 6 Chance perdue; 7 Manuscrits; 8 Le régiment; 9 Crise d'identité; 10 Chasser la joie; 11 Saint Clair, Le Lavandou; 12 L'écrivain; 13 Paris; 14 L'éloge; 15 Trouvé; Part Three; 16 Par avion; 17 Passage de l'Horloge; 18 La fille de Denison; 19 Ajustement; 20 Histoire partagée; 21 En famille; 22 Date de naissance; 23 Contradictoire; 24 Fête de fromage; 25 Émue; 26 Les Sables D'Or; 27 Port Cros; 28 La clé Intro About the Author Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Epigraph Contents Melbourne, Australia Part One 1 Disparu 2 Souvenir 3 Voyageur 4 La peine Part Two 5 Serpents 6 Chance perdue 7 Manuscrits 8 Le régiment 9 Crise d'identité 10 Chasser la joie 11 Saint Clair, Le Lavandou 12 L'écrivain 13 Paris 14 L'éloge 15 Trouvé Part Three 16 Par avion 17 Passage de l'Horloge 18 La fille de Denison 19 Ajustement 20 Histoire partagée 21 En famille 22 Date de naissance 23 Contradictoire 24 Fête de fromage 25 Émue 26 Les Sables D'Or 27 Port Cros 28 La clé 29 Ma marraine30 Au revoir, Paris Epilogue References Guide to Notable Figures Acknowledgements.