This blog post will feature a few French language Beatles books. We have several French authors as members of the blog and a few of those titles will be featured here today. In the future, we are planning to post Beatles books by more foreign language authors.

Today, we would like to highlight some of the works of French authors, Jean-Louis Polard, Eric Krasker and additionally a special book I recently received from a fellow Beatles collector in France which I was very pleased about as it is a French Beatles graphic novel (comic book) that deals with the Beatles in Paris! It combines my interest in both the Beatles and comic books.

The universal appeal of the Beatles has no border or language restrictions and we are proud to have many authors of these books as members of the blog.

Here are some of the book projects author Jean-Louis Polard has been involved with!

Truly, the Beatles were citizens of the world!

JEAN-LOUIS POLARD

‘Le Dictionnaire des Beatles’ (Michel Lafon) published in 1995

‘Le Dictionnaire des Beatles’ (Le Castor Astral) republished in 2000

‘Le Jour où John rencontra Paul – Le Choc des Beatles’  (Michel Lafon ) published in 1996.

Actually it’s the French version of ‘The Day John met Paul’. Jean-Louis Polard wrote the preface to this book. The book’s author is Jim O’Donnell!

‘The Beatles: Get Back to their roots – Les racines musicales de John, Paul, George et Ringo’ (Librinova) 2020

‘The Beatles: Get Back to basics again – Les racines musicales de John, Paul, George et Ringo’ (Librinova) 2021- Volume 2

Author Jean-Louis Polard interviews Mark Lewisohn in Belgium. Jean-Louis also met the blog administrator of this blog, David Bedford, in Belgium.

In the past we have discussed the importance of networking in the concept of collecting. A fellow collector in France named Roland Lestoquoit who loves to collect Beatles-related posters signed by the individual photographers. He has a superb collection and we have worked out a couple of wonderful trades. He is a kind soul. He recently sent me several signed French Beatles book titles.

Eric Krasker is a highly regarded author who has several well-known French language titles:

Here is one of them dealing with the Beatles gigs at the Olympia in Paris. I have corresponded by email with Eric asking him if there will be an English edition printed in the future. Eric has responded in the affirmative but it will take some time. It is a 600 page book which I am eager to read in my native language.

Les Beatles à l’Olympia

This book is in the French language and not yet translated in English, it already features several documents in English, especially all the correspondence between Brian Epstein and the Olympia management. Now, as far as the English edition is concerned, the author is awaiting a reply from several foreign publishers who might be interested in publishing an English edition. To be continued…

Le Cherche Midi, 2024

Graphic conception: Justine Dupre

Back Cover of the book:

At my friend Roland’s request, Eric was so kind to sign the book for me…

I do have an English edition of one of Eric’s books and it is terrific dealing with many myths propogated about the Beatles in the early years. Eric helps to set the record straight to some of these in this great title:

THE BEATLES: FACT AND FICTION 1960-1962

Published by SEGUIER, 2009

Language: English

A note from Eric concerning this title:

As far as the book Fact & Fiction (1960-1962) is concerned, the book is NOT out of print yet, and can still be ordered at this address in England :

Rewind Retro

Craig McGregor

Unit F3

Churcham Business Park

Gloucester, Churcham

Gloucestershire

GL2 8AX

United Kingdom

Email : rewindretroshop@gmail.com

The French language version of the book: Published by Seguier Editions, Paris

Another Eric Krasker title:

LA FRANCE ET LES BEATLES – VOL. 1 Paperback – November 1, 2005

French Edition  by Eric KRASKER (Author), Jean-Claude HOCQUET (Author)

Publisher-SEGUIER

Publication date-November 1, 2005

The Volume 2 mystery has been solved. There was a notification a while back that there would be a volume 2 to the work above and the Vol 2 proposed cover is shown below (the proposed book cover in red shown below)

I had asked Mr. Krasker if the title shown below was forthcoming in the near future and the was so kind in sending me a reply to my inquiry. As it turns out, apparently much of the content that was intended for vol 2 was incorporated into the Beatles Olympia title:

“The book was released on 18 January 2024, and was called : The Beatles at the Olympia – Three weeks that changed the face of the pop culture.

In fact, it should be pointed out that the book contents already features 75 to 80% of the material which was initially supposed to be incorporated in the book La France et les Beatles – Vol. 2.

The French 1965 tour will be released apart (separately), within an undetermined period.

Actually, there were a lot of previously unpublished documents and many testimonies just for the Olympia engagement (15 January-4 February 1964), and adding all this material to the one of the 1965 tour would have resulted in a 1000 + pages book, which was not realistic for the publisher.

So, I decided to concentrate my efforts only on the Olympia period and published all I had on this subject so that I could make a book as complete as possible.”

The proposed cover for what would have been Vol 2:

Roland Lestoquoit was also aware that I love the Beatles appearances in comic books as part of my collecting passion. I was thrilled that he sent me this graphic novel hardbound Beatles comic dealing with the Beatles escapades in Paris, France and was signed by a couple of the creators of this wonderful book at Roland’s request. I thank him and them for this wonderful kindness..

I love this large format comic book in French

The Beatles in Paris

Vassilissa & Philippe Thirault (daughter and father) are the scriptwriters, Christopher is the cartoonist and Degreff is the colorist.

Hachette Livre March 2024

Robinson

Back Cover of the book:

A brief excerpt page from the (graphic novel) comic book: As I recall the German versions of I Want to Hold Your Hand (Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand) and She Loves You (Sie Liebt Dich) were recorded at Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris.

The credits attributed to the book:

Signature page #1:

Signature page #2:

Merci-to my wonderful new friends in France!

Here are a few more fascinating French titles at this link:

The Beatles Discomania – A Great Book | Beatles Blog

Do you have any non-English Beatles books in your collection?

If so, what is your favorite non-English language Beatles book? If you own a foreign language book is it because you can understand the language, or is it because the photos in the book are very unique and distinct?

BUZZ