Saving Private Ryan, 57:40 ©Dreamworks Pictures and Paramount Pictures
I’ve met with any number of book clubs where someone remarked how little they knew about French forced labor during WWII before hearing Marcel’s story (…hey, me too, sister. Me too!) A number of readers have also remarked that — now that they know more about what happened to conscripted French civilians — they’ve ‘picked up’ on references to it while reading other books.
Saturday, October 10, 1942
.
My dear Mom,
.
Today no letter from you, but a package for which I thank you very much: a padlock, Felisedine, slippers, hard candies, envelopes, a blanket, in short, everything that was written on the little paper inside, everything except the ‘Comedia’ that you may have taken out at the last minute.
If that’s the case, you were right, for the reading of ’Echo de Nancy’ is enough for me. Again, thank you but please do not deprive yourself of anything for me, for I don’t need anything else and I wouldn’t fear asking you if I did. So please don’t go without something for my comfort, promise?
Elbing, July 2, 1944
Dear Madame and Monsieur Roland,
I received your kind letter [which] gave me great pleasure to have your news and information about the arrival of Roland. Thank you very much for the information about the [unclear] young lady. I’m in good spirits, don’t worry.
People often ask whether I’m still actively searching for information on Marcel. People seem disappointed when I tell them I am not trying to find additional information on his life or his time in the Berlin-Marienfelde labor camp. I feel I have enough information to understand who he was and what he may have experienced. And I believe that even if I were to find additional documents (or letters!) it would not fundamentally change the man I came to know: a kind and loving husband and father.READ MORE
———
One thing I have heard over and over from readers of Marcel’s Letters is that Marcel’s family began to feel like their family. That is why I feel compelled to share the news that Marcel and Renée’s beloved middle daughter, Denise, passed away on Saturday, September 26. Denise was 86 years old. Denise is survived by her children Philippe and Valentine, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Roumieu
Bar sur Loup, close to Grasse, Maritime Alps, France
Ludwigshofen, June 2, 1944
My very dear parents,
I’m sending you these few words to share some of my news. First of all, I can tell you that we are all in good health and I hope that this letters will find you the same, my dear parents, as well as the Fécaud and Giordamanga families. READ MORE
Saturday, May 6, 1944
Dear little Alice,
I received your two letters of April 5 and 12. I’m confirming it to you, in case you didn’t receive my letter from Buching [?]. READ MORE
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Roumieu
Bar sur Loup, close to Grasse, Maritime Alps, France
Ludwigshofen, January 21, 1944
My very dear parents,
I have just received several letters dated December 20, 23, 25 and January 1 that pleased me very much, for they brought me your good news and I can see that your health is good, and I can tell you that it’s the same for all of us.READ MORE
November 2, 1944
Dear Madame,
I am sending this little card to give you some of my news that is still very good and to announce to you that I have become a free prisoner several days ago. READ MORE
June 12, 1944
My dear mom, my dear dad, my little sister Rolande..READ MORE
May 3, 1944
My beloved little darling wife,
I am happy tonight because I have mail like a notary clerk—nine letters in two days, not all from you, of course, but still, I have four—from March 23, March 26, April 2 and April 13. READ MORE
My dear Dad,
I’m writing to you hoping that you received all my cards in spite of the problems with the mail.READ MORE
Lafond–La Rochelle
April 1, 1944
Dear Mom,
Yesterday there was beautiful sunshine and today, for April Fish, we have grey weather and fine rain. Tomorrow night Gaston will take the train, and after tomorrow noon he will go see you for sure. It seems to me you come back at noon or 12:30.READ MORE
February 16, 1944
My very dear ones,
Today I am sending the third stamp of the series of which I sent the first two on my letter on the 14th and in the same mail I sent two small packages containing your birthday gift. READ MORE
Lyon, December 23, 1943
My little Etta,
I hope that this card will give you the most sincere wishes that I am sending, hoping that the new year will be good for you, and that both of you will enjoy good health and that the bad moments that we are all going through will soon be ended.READ MORE
December 21, 1943
My beloved little darling,
I was happy this evening to read your letter of December 6, learning that you received your money order and yes, my darling, so far I have had a good amount on pay day but believe me, your words of thanks touched me also this evening. READ MORE
W A R N I N G : B O O K S P O I L E R S A H E A D
Last year at the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI) conference in Montreal (watch my talk here), I learned ATypI’s 2018 conference would be held in Antwerp, Belgium. After realizing Antwerp was an easy two-hour train ride from Paris, I realized I had found the perfect excuse to return to the City of Lights.
This is the first letter I’ve found that was mailed from France to a French laborer in Germany. The letter was addressed to Serge Brodig, who was in a lager (a barrack) in Berlin. The postage stamps bear Petain’s profile.READ MORE
Today’s the day: the release of Marcel’s Letters as a paperback! I made a video to tell you about some of the differences in the paperback — and to share a special extra. Take a look!READ MORE