Bad Faith: A Forgotten History of Family, Fatherland, and Vichy France Book

A very readable, and personal examination of an individual family experience before, and during the German occupation of France. It focuses primarily on Louis Darquier and his spouse Myrtle Jones - about as loathsome a couple as can be found. There is really not much one can say that is remotely positive about these two.

The author examines the historical genealogy of both. Louis's origins are from Cahors in France and Myrtle from Tasmania (the island at the bottom of Australia). What is so striking is they are both the bad apples of their families (who said opposites attract?). The other family member's became self-sufficient and successful in their respective societies. Admittedly Louis's family had a difficult time during the occupation and his brother Jean collaborated too closely with the Vichy regime. Louis Darquier was a complete "loser".

Louis was never able to support himself; he constantly borrowed large sums of money from his family which he never returned. For him, and his wife Myrtle, lying was not second nature - it was their way of life. From this perspective they were soul-mates. They only knew how to spend money extravagantly - they constantly lived in hotels and ate out. They had a child which they promptly abandoned.

During the 1930's after Hitler came to power - Louis found his calling and became involved with right-wing anti-Semitic groups. He published a great deal of repulsive hate literature propaganda - anti-Semitic and repetitive. He established many contacts in this under-world. At this stage much of his money was coming directly from Nazi Germany, so at least he was not so dependent on his family. He and Myrtle continued living the high life in hotels and restaurants. After the fall of France in the summer of 1940 this underworld ascended to real political power and Louis pontificated at the head of several anti-Semitic organizations. These were involved in the deportation of Jews to Germany - most were killed in concentration camps. There were many children among the victims.

Even though this is a dismal story it is extremely well told and illuminating. It puts a human face on a particular person who did horrible crimes. To his dying day in Spain this anti-Semitism was very alive in Louis Darquier.

It would be interesting to speculate on why anti-Semitism became such an important part of Louis life during the 1930's. Prior to this, it was not a significant focal point in his life. It is possible that Louis simply latched onto this as a money-getting scheme - being the opportunist that he was.

A very sad aspect of this story is the daughter they abandoned in England. She became a psychiatrist and helped many of her patients - one of them being the author of this book. Unfortunately she self-destructed and died at the age of forty. She was morbidly disillusioned with both her parents.

This detailed story gives one a greater understanding of Vichy France and the agony of a country under occupation. Louis was but one of a large group that collaborated. France still copes and suffers from this debacle.

And to twist history - if France had successfully resisted the German invasion of 1940 - Louis would have remained a non-entity with his hundred or so dismal followers. Quite possibly he would have been arrested and imprisoned.