The Patriotic Traitor - Softcover

Lynn, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0571331025 ISBN 13: 9780571331024

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2016

Synopsis

Phillipe Pétain, a tough, uncompromising soldier who rose through the ranks to save France in 1916 Battle of Verdun. Charles de Gaulle, the aristocratic, academic and equally uncompromising soldier who led France to freedom when, decades later, Pétain became a Nazi collaborator.

Two giants of the twentieth century who loved each other like father and son until they found themselves on opposing sides in World War II. In 1945 de Gaulle had his oldest friend tried for treason. Their complex relationship - noble, comic and absurd - changed history.

Jonathan Lynn's The Patriotic Traitor tells the extraordinary story of these great men as Pétain awaits his verdict.

The Patriotic Traitor premiered at the Park Theatre, London, in February 2016.

About this title

Review:

'A cracking bit of writing by Jonathan Lynn.' Author: Andrew Marr Source: The Andrew Marr Show

This play challenges us to think about the sliding doors of history, about what makes a nation, a leader, or indeed, a traitor. It is a serious undertaking... It's a serious, and a seriously good, endeavour. Source: The Times

Lynn's piece is emphatically craftsmanlike, perceptive, leisurely and detailed, gently amusing at times. Source: Sunday Times

A genuinely instructive, entreatingly told account of the Second World War as seen from a rare perspective. Source: Guardian

About the Author:

Jonathan Lynn's prolific career spans more than four decades as a director, screenwriter, producer and actor in films, television and theatre, as well as best-selling author and novelist.
His many movies include Nuns on the Run and Clue (both of which he also wrote), My Cousin Vinny (for which Marisa Tomei won the Oscar), The Whole Nine Yards (Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry), Trial and Error (Jeff Daniels, Charlize Theron), Greedy (Michael J. Fox, Kirk Douglas), The Distinguished Gentleman (Eddie Murphy - Political Film Society Special Award and the Environmental Media Award) and The Fighting Temptations (Beyoncé Knowles, Cuba Gooding Jr. - the NAACP Image Award for Best Film).
Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay's BAFTA award-winning political comedy Yes Minister first aired on BBC2 in 1980 and ran until 1984. The sequel, Yes Prime Minister, ran from 1986 until 1988. The programmes have been seen in 84 countries, and both series are now available on BBC DVD. They won a Special Award from the Campaign for Freedom of Information, and numerous other awards.
Lynn's novels include Mayday and, with Antony Jay, The Complete Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minster, Volumes 1 and 2 (in paperback combined as The Complete Yes Prime Minister) which cumulatively sold more than a million copies in hardback, were on the British top-ten bestseller list for three years and have been translated into numerous languages. The stage play Yes Prime Minister opened in London's West End in 2010 to great critical acclaim and full houses. His most recent book, Comedy Rules, was published by Faber in 2011.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0571331025
• ISBN 13: 9780571331024
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112