http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-the-french-learn-to-love-shakespeare-1042754.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-the-french-learn-to-love-shakespeare-1042754.html <p>Shakespeare ou pas Shakespeare? Telle est la question. The French are replying with a resounding "oui". The theatre scene across the Channel has become a kind of Paris-upon-Avon or Shakespeare-sur-Seine. There are, at present, more of his plays on the stage in the greater Paris area &ndash; six, to be exact &ndash; than by the most popular of classical French playwrights, Moli&egrave;re.</p> John Lichfield Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-female-mudwrestling-french-style-1032223.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-female-mudwrestling-french-style-1032223.html <p>The French Left has devised a way to distract media attention away from President Nicolas Sarkozy &ndash; female mud-wrestling.</p> John Lichfield Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-credit-crunch-even-hits-dogsitters-1006639.html http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-credit-crunch-even-hits-dogsitters-1006639.html <p>Each Wednesday, my wife strolls down the Avenue George V, which runs from the Champs Elysées to the River Seine. The avenue is one of the swankiest and oddest thoroughfares in Paris. Its buildings include the original Herm&egrave;s shop, home of the unreasonably expensive scarf, the celeb-infested Hotel George V, the raunchy Crazy Horse Saloon and the embassy of the People's Republic of China. </p> John Lichfield Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:01 +0000