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On 7 February 2016
Juliette Benzoni's ambassadresses (as named
by Juliette Benzoni) Linda and Frédérique
had the difficult task to inform
all her faithful readers and friends (via
their websites and four official Facebook
pages) that our beloved author Juliette
Benzoni had peacefully passed away on Sunday
7 February 2016.
Every time we were invited
to Juliette's home at Saint-Mandé I thought
it was like entering a room in a castle
where a venerable queen was waiting for us.
Like a ritual, without ever talking to each
other, we would take our assigned places on
the white sofa. When it was time to
leave and say goodbye, Juliette used to say
to us with a smile:
«
When are you girls coming back
»
? and we would say in unison
«
as soon as possible
»
and smile back at her with a tender embrace...
see you soon Juliette....
8 February 2016
Personal note to Linda and
Frédérique by journalist and author Vincent
Meylan...
I remember very well when you
first came to Juliette's house. She was a
little anxious. What do you think they want
to ask me? She asked me. And then
immediately, she loved you both. You made
her very happy. It was you who made it clear
to her that she did not have to worry that
journalists ignored her. You brought
her the love of her readers and that's all
that mattered. I am sending you my email in a private message, needless to say that I
would be happy to meet you both whenever you
want. I send my best regards and don't
forget to read a few pages of one of Juliette's
books tonight.
I so
understand how dreadful these days must have
been for both of you. So many of us feel the
loss of Juliette tonight. I know this is
something very personal to say, but maybe it
will help you a bit. I have decided a long
time ago that I would never accept that
someone is dead. I just live with it. I do
not think people are ever gone. I keep dead
people which I love, always with me - this
is quite easy to do in Juliette’s case.
Yesterday evening I started reading again
ˈCatherineˈ and I so love it. I am
very thankful to Juliette for having written such
amazing books, which always take me to a place I enjoy so much.
Juliette is not gone. You
just have to open one of her books to be close to her. Try it.
Vincent |
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8 February 2016
On Facebook, la Reine des Romans
historiques text by Linda and
Frédérique
We regret to inform
you that we have lost our very
dear Juliette, our beloved
author, on February 7, 2016. She
died very quietly in her sleep,
her daughter Anne at her side!
She was 95 years old and for
more than 50 years she has
taught us so much about the
world of history by entertaining
us with her magnificent
characters to whom we have
become so attached! She leaves
us 86 little jewels to read and
reread with as much pleasure as
ever.
For us, she was more than our
favorite author, she had adopted
us, we were her daughters of the
Great Roads and we will miss
immensely. All our thoughts go out
to her daughter Anne.
Frédérique and Linda
|
Good-bye
beloved
Juliette |
12 February 2016
F acebook,
la Reine des Romans historiques
- by Linda and Frédérique
« Then weep for
her, weep as long as you
want ! One cannot mourn enough
for a woman like her
»
(Rewriting of a sentence
we find at the
end of the fifth Catherine book
«
Catherine and a Time for Love » text chosen by Linda
Compagnoni Walther)
We are still under the
impression having accompanied
Anne, Juliette's daughter, in
these last moments, together
with her faithful publisher
Gregory Berthier-Gabrièle to say
a last farewell to our beloved
Juliette in the Notre Dame de
Saint-Mandé church.
Many were present to say one
last goodbye to this
extraordinary woman. Family and
close friends like Chantal de
Badts (Author) or
Françoise Fougerolle (close
friend). The mayor of
Saint-Mandé, Monsieur Patrick
Beaudouin. Jean des Cars
(Author) colleague and friend.
The world of television: Dame
Marion Sarraut (Film
director), her very close friend
from those unforgettable times
of the shooting of Juliette's
best-sellers, Marianne, a
Star for Napoléon, Catherine,
One Love is Enough, Le Gerfaut
(The Lure of the Falcon) and La
Florentine.
Mme Catherine Jurquet (producer
of these series) Claudine
Ancelot, our Catherine de
Montsalvy and Gérard Chambre,
who played in Catherine,
Marianne and Le Gerfaut.
Several editors of Juliette were
represented: ˈEditions Plonˈ
with Grégory
Berthier-Gabrièle, ˈEditions
Perrinˈ with Patrick de
Bourgues, ˈEditions Pocketˈ
with Mme Brehan,
ˈEditions Bartillatˈ Mme
Constance de Bartillat with Xavier de Bartillat.
Her new British publisher
ˈTelos Publishingˈ
had sent a beautiful bouquet!
Father Jérôme Gavois, a friend
of the family, celebrated Mass,
while the organ played in the background
ˈSchubert'sˈ Ave Maria. Her dear publisher
Gregory Berthier-Gabrièle read
his magnificent tribute that
honoured Juliette, a woman loved
all over the world.
A last look and the coffin
covered with magnificent flowers
was carried away...
Au-revoir sweet
Lady of Saint Mandé... until our
next meeting under new heavens...
|
«
Les filles
des grands
chemins »
Frédérique,
Linda,
Hélène and
Claudia |
13 February 2016
Facebook,
la Reine des Romans historiques
- by Linda et Frédérique
And for all of you, her
faithful readers, a small gift:
a photo of the room where our granddame
wrote these magnificent stories
that fill our libraries...
We will miss her so much but
will continue to live through
all the words that came out of
this typewriter that she never
wanted to give up for a
computer....
A little anecdote what the
Author said about a Computer :
«
In
general, I take notes and then
type directly on my LCD machine.
Then I give the manuscript to my
daughter who retypes it on her
computer and gives a diskette to
my publisher. The computer to me
is an enemy. The first time I
switched one on, I saw it appear
on the "going to sleep" screen,
so you understand...»
Juliette Benzoni
(extract from the French
Newspaper Le Figaro, March 2001)
On Facebook, la Reine des Romans
historiques - by Linda et
Frédérique
Juliette
Benzoni was buried on February 15 in
Saint-Mandé, her home town since she
was 15 years old, in the presence of
family and some close friends. She
rests in the family vault with her
mother, her husband André Benzoni
and her son Jean-François Gallois.
For those who want to meditate, know
that you have the blessing of her
daughter Anne.
Cemetary of Saint-Mandé SUD
(near of la Porte Dorée)
Division 16 (on the left as you
enter)
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The name of
Juliette
Benzoni is
engraved on
the right
side of the
tomb |
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My heart is sorrowful, but this is
not a farewell...
Saint-Mandé
12 February 2016,
by
Linda Compagnoni Walther
On one of our visits,
Juliette, all smiles, asked us if we
had entered her study. We replied
but no, we would not have allowed
ourselves to enter the chamber
without her permission... Her
response?
«
But of course you can go in and have
a look where I work
»! Today we enter it but with a
melancholic heart... the typewriter
is ready to be used, the drawer is
open, a notebook on the table... a
book about the history of the Duchess
of Berry... the room is so silent...
indeed if the typewriter could speak
- we leave the abandoned premises on
tiptoes...
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