No Regrets - Carolyn Burke [139]
27 “He’s a good dancer”: Conversation quoted in Duclos and Martin, p. 313.
28 “[She] is a fine”: Roger Nimier, “Triomphe d’Achard,” in Marchois, Piaf: Emportée, pp. 67–68.
29 “She proved that she”: Georges Ravon, in C’est la vie, no. 75, 1951, in Marchois, Piaf: Emportée, p. 67.
30 “to console her”: Henri Spade, in France-Soir, Aug. 5, 1977, in Bonini, p. 323.
31 “Edith never knew”: Anon., quoted in ibid., p. 322.
32 “Edith liked to laugh”: Micheline Dax interview with the author, July 4, 2008.
33 “Edith outdid herself”: Micheline Dax, Je suis gugusse, voilà ma gloire, p. 53.
34 “It was essential”: EP, Ma vie, pp. 61–62.
35 Another new song: While continuing to write for Piaf (a total of six songs), Glanzberg also composed the score for Jacques Tati’s Mon Oncle and several classical pieces, including Yiddish Suite and Holocaust Lieder.
36 “Edith has found”: “Pa-Dam,” Samedi Soir, Nov. 24, 1951, in Marchois, Piaf: Emportée, p. 68.
37 “the George Sand”: Maurice Fleury, “Edith Gassion (dite ‘Piaf’) est-elle la George Sand du XX siècle?,” Photo-Journal, Dec. 11, 1952, in Marchois, Piaf: Emportée, pp. 69–70.
38 “ange bleu”: EP letters to Louis “Toto” Gérardin dated Jan. 16, 1952, c. Jan. 26 1952, and June 19, 1952, quoted in Christie’s (Paris) press release, communication to the author by Patricia de Fougerolle, June 1, 2009.
39 “extraordinary”: René Rouzaud, in Marchois, Edith Piaf: Opinions, p. 232. Rouzaud wrote the lyrics for a number of Piaf’s songs, including “La Goualante du pauvre Jean.”
CHAPTER TWELVE • 1952–1956
1 “especially now”: “ ’Il n’y a que Paris … surtout maintenant!,” L’Aurore, March 22, 1952, in Marchois, Piaf: Emportée, p. 68. EP’s unpublished letters to Gérardin reveal that she was on intimate terms with the cyclist during the spring of 1952, despite their concern about his wife’s jealousy.
2 their latest song: Although “Je t’ai dans la peau” translates as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” it is not the Cole Porter song of the same title.
3 “Jacques came back”: EP, Au bal, p. 155.
4 “Mlle. Heartbreak”: Life, Oct. 6, 1952, pp. 109–10.
5 “I’m truly happy”: EP to JB, Sept. 23, 1952. In this letter Piaf asks Bourgeat for copies of her favorite books, including Erasmus’s In Praise of Folly and Bergson’s Laughter.
6 “I don’t think she”: Philippe-Gérard, in Brierre, p. 114.
7 “In America”: EP to JB, Nov. 5, 1952.
8 “Her face was puffy”: Gassion, p. 136.
9 “I never thought”: Ibid., p. 141.
10 “What a joy”: EP to JC, Feb. 28, 1953, in Jean Cocteau, Le Passé défini, vol. 2, pp. 64–65.
11 “It was too big”: Simone Pills, in Marchois, Edith Piaf: Opinions, pp. 199–223, the source for subsequent quotations and information in this section.
12 “I was happy”: EP, Ma vie, pp. 77–78.
13 “good citizens”: Emile Vuillermoz, in Paris-Presse, April 24, 1953, in Marchois, Piaf: Emportée, p. 70.
14 “conjugated and conjugal”: France-Soir, n.d., quoted in Duclos and Martin, p. 335.
15 “like a real lady”: Simone Pills, in Marchois, Edith Piaf: Opinions, p. 211.
16 “Last time I asked”: Simone Pills quoted in “Edith Piaf a reçu deux mains d’or,” in Marchois, Piaf: Emportée, p. 71.
17 “It was easy”: Rouzaud, in Marchois, Edith Piaf: Opinions, p. 231.
18 “Thank you for helping”: La Joie de vivre, broadcast Sept. 16, 1955, quoted in Notes, p. 62.
19 “After applauding”: “Spectacles,” L’Avenir de Bernay, May 1954.
20 “She’s fortunate”: Reported by EP in Radar, July 1954, in Duclos and Martin, p. 344.
21 “Nothing special”: Bonel and Bonel, p. 202.
22 Her new show: Critical tributes in this paragraph are from Edith Piaf and Her Continental Revue souvenir program. Angel issued two albums at this time, Bravo pour le clown and Piaf of Paris.
23 “I was so exhausted”: EP to JB, April 20, 1955.
24 “a deeply expressive soul”: “Au Her Majesty’s Piaf et sa revue continentale,” La Patrie, May 10, 1955, in Marchois, Piaf: Emportée, p. 94.
25 “One needs a heart”: EP to JB, June 10, 1955. She added, “I have your friendship, the best of all, as I love you like my father, you’re my family, and with