English summary: Maurice Garcon (1889-1967) was one of the greatest
lawyers of his time. From 1912 until his death, he chronicled almost
nightly every trivial or significant event he either witnessed or
participated in. This first volume of his previously unpublished journal
covers - at times hour by hour - the war, the defeat, the occupation and
the liberation. At the age of 50, the lawyer had reached the peak of his
art. His notes also reflect his keen observational skills and an
enviable writing talent. There is a touch of Albert Londres in Maurice
Garcon's work. Nothing eluded his curiosity: he would criss-cross Paris
and the provinces, ferreting out facts, double-checking them and writing
them down, constantly applying - to his credit - the rare
self-discipline of not rewriting anything: what people are reading is
his rough draft, reported on-the-spot.Originally a staunch "Marshalist,"
Garcon switched sides after the armistice and, once Petain was voted in,
never stopped criticising "the old man," expressing his patriotic fury,
merciless dismay, anger, hope, despair, shame over the collaboration,
and virulently attacking the new Vichy laws. His journal brims over with
countless portraits, anecdotes, and little-known details. He shares with
readers his encounters at the Palais de Justice with distinguished
lawyers of the time, who were often making political headlines. Maurice
Garcon knew everyone and took part in all major trials, from criminal
cases to political scandals. Even before the war, his scholarly court
pleadings had earned him the reputation of a literary - even mundane -
lawyer and future academician. A whole gallery of prominent people pass
through his pages: writers, painters, actors and publishers. This book
invites us on an astounding journey through those dark years via an
instantaneous and gripping history. French description: Maurice Garcon
(1889-1967) fut l'un des plus grands avocats de son temps.De 1912 a sa
mort, il a consigne presque chaque soir les evenements, petits et
grands, dont il etait le temoin ou l'acteur.Ce premier volume de son
journal inedit couvre, parfois heure par heure, la guerre, la defaite,
l'Occupation et la Liberation. A cinquante ans, l'avocat est alors au
sommet de son art. Dans ces chroniques, il revele aussi des qualites
d'observation et un talent d'ecriture enviables. Il y a du Albert
Londres chez Maurice Garcon. Curieux de tout, il sillonne Paris et la
province, furete, recoupe, redige, avec le merite constant, et rare, de
s'interdire toute reecriture: c'est un premier jet qu'on lit sur le
vif.Marechaliste de la premiere heure, il fait volte-face a l'armistice
et, apres le vote des pleins pouvoirs a Petain, ne cessera plus de
fustiger le Vieux . Fureur patriote, chagrin sans pitie, colere, espoir,
desespoir. Honte de la collaboration. Virulence contre les nouvelles
lois de Vichy. Son journal deborde. Portraits, anecdotes, details
meconnus foisonnent.Croisees au Palais de justice, les figures du
barreau, souvent tetes d'affiche de la politique, deviennent familieres.
Maurice Garcon connait tout le monde, est de tous les grands proces, des
dossiers criminels aux affaires politiques.Ses plaidoiries erudites ont
fait de lui, des avant guerre, un avocat litteraire, voire mondain,
futur academicien. Toute une galerie de personnalites en vue defile dans
ses pages, ecrivains, peintres, comediens, editeurs.Nous voici convies a
une ahurissante traversee des annees noires, histoire immediate
haletante.Pascal Fouche est historien et editeur.Pascale Froment est
journaliste et ecrivain.
