Jacques Choffel, born December 14, 1915, in Paris, where he died January 8, 1996, is a French writer specializing in the history of
Brittany and
Normandy.[1]
Biography
It was at the age of 52 that, in parallel with his professional life, Jacques Choffel published his first book. Having graduated from
HEC Paris,[2] nothing apparently prepared him to take an interest in the history of
Brittany,
Normandy,
Aquitaine and Anjou. The credit goes to the eclectic mind of Jacques Choffel who defines himself with humor: "I am half
Socrates, half
César Birotteau".
He is therefore passionate about:
the one who was said to be "Pleasant to the ladies", Francis II, last Duke of Brittany;
the third Duke of Normandy,
Richard I whose bravery earned him the nickname Fearless;
the Crusades through one of the most famous knights: son of Anjou and Aquitaine, heir to the conqueror,
Richard the Lionheart;
"the most valiant, but also the most clumsy" of Duke William's sons:
Robert II of Normandy;
but also forgotten Norman women:
Duchess Gunnor who was called the Morning Lily, Helvise of Évreux or
Sibylla of Conversano, Rosemonde or Mahaut. The tribute of his son Laurent Choffel, written for the posthumous publication of his last book Richard sans Peur, duc de Normandie (932–996):
"Pok-Pok, With this last work, you remain more alive than ever in my heart. With your way of telling, the History of France becomes a captivating story full of unexpected twists and turns.
A thousand years later you have been able to find in your old grimoires, written in Latin or old French, the details of the events but above all the characters and motivations of each one.
Thanks to you, it is a revelation.
I am able to love or hate these characters that you depict so well.
After Richard Sans-Peur, we will all have the irresistible desire to read or reread all your books.
Laurent"
His granddaughter, Sandrine Jonchère-Choffel, is also the author of several novels.[3][4]
Books
Le Duc Charles Ier d'Orléans : Chronique d'un prince des fleurs de lys, Paris, Nouvelles Éditions Debresse, 1968, 326 p. (
ISBN978-2-85157-592-0)
La Guerre de succession de Bretagne, Paris, Éditions Fernand Lanore, 1975, 192 p. (
ISBN978-7-6300-0356-4)
Le Dernier Duc de Bretagne : François II, Paris, Éditions Fernand Lanore, 1977, 280 p. (
ISBN978-7-6300-0357-1)
La Bretagne sous l'orage Plantagenêt, Paris, Éditions Fernand Lanore, 1979, 248 p. (
ISBN978-7-6300-0355-7)
Robert de Normandie : Le duc aux courtes bottes, Paris, Éditions Fernand Lanore, 1981, 239 p. (
ISBN978-7-6300-0354-0)
Louis VIII le Lion : Roi de France méconnu Roi d'Angleterre ignoré, Paris, Éditions Fernand Lanore, 1983, 224 p. (
ISBN978-7-6300-0506-3)
Richard Cœur de Lion : ...et l'Angleterre cessa d'être normande, Paris, Éditions Fernand Lanore, 1985, 261 p. (
ISBN978-2-85157-005-5)
Mais où sont les Normandes d'antan, Paris, Éditions Fernand Lanore, 1988, 219 p. (
ISBN978-2-85157-046-8)
Richard Sans Peur : Duc de Normandie 932-996, Paris, Éditions Fernand Lanore, 1999, 221 p. (
ISBN978-2-85157-177-9)
Awards
1980 - Laureate of the
Académie Française, prix René Petiet for La Bretagne sous l'orage Plantagenêt.[5]