Interview on Jacques Chirac

On its 8 pm news program this evening, France 2 included a long talk with Franz-Olivier Giesbert on the 848-page book he has just published on Jacques Chirac, the former two-term president of France and mayor of Paris. Giesbert was lively and enthusiastic, portraying Chirac as much-beloved, genial--and impossible to fully know. He has also written a much shorter book on Nicholas Sarkozy, president from 2007 to 2011, which I have read--it was very worthwhile.

France 2 is one of three government TV channels in France; the 8 pm broadcast is its major news of the day, typically lasting nearly 40 minutes (it's flexible :) uninterrupted by commercials; segments are often long (this interview was at least 10 minutes) and wide-ranging. The closest thing in the U.S. is the PBS News Hour, but it is less flexible and easy-going.