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Carmen Tessier (June 24, 1911 – July 31, 1980) was a French journalist and gossip columnist.

Biography

Carmen Tessier was born in Allaines (Eure-et-Loir). Secretary to Maurice Bourdet at the Le Poste Parisien in 1937, she then joined Paris-Soir. After the Second World War and the Liberation, she was refused a press card because she worked for that newspaper during part of the German occupation. In recounting the episode to the journalist Jean-Claude Lamy, she remembers: "Thanks to the intervention of Pierre Lazareff, I was able to appear again before the committee that decided on the granting of the card. The presiding magistrate asked me loudly: "So, madam, what did you do during the war?" "Mr. President, you know it as well as I do: I have reported on the cases you have tried". It was all over. As a consequence, I have the press card No. 750.”^[1]

As a journalist at France-Soir Tessier became a household name, writing about rumours surrounding celebrities and stars, in a column Le Propos de la commère (or ‘neighbourhood busybody’) that was widely read in France.^[2] She modelled herself on the American journalist Elsa Maxwell, admired by the director of France-Soir, Pierre Lazareff, when he lived in the United States. Though her writing was ironic and at times caustic, she steered clear of outright scandal. From these revelations she publishes several books, including the collections of her memoires, including the Bibliothèque Rosse, Histoires de Marie-Chantal and La Commère en dit plus. Olivia de Havilland remarked that her "power and prestige as a lady journalist are unequalled in all of Europe"^[3]

In 1956, when Romain Gary won the Prix Goncourt for Les Racines du ciel, columnist Tessier suggested that because the writer was from Lithuania, he thus had a poor command of French, so Albert Camus and Jacques Lemarchand must have written his book for him. Albert Camus then shoots a letter to Charles Gombault, co-director of France-Soir, who said, after reading the missive: "Ok, we will only talk about Camus in this newspaper to announce his death" ^[4]

Private life

Marrying in 1961 Andre-Louis Dubois, prefect of Paris and later the director of Paris Match, opened doors for Tessier across Paris and expanded her network of friends and informants.^[5]

Philippe Bouvard replaced her in writing the gossip column of France-Soir in 1973. Retirement, in 1975, brought the opportunity to write her books, but she missed her accustomed crowded life of invitations and phone calls, and suffered severe depression. She committed suicide in 1980, jumping from the balcony of the 9th floor of a seniors' residence in Neuilly-sur-Seine, west of Paris, where she lived with her husband.<ref>[2]<?ref>

Honours

Knight of the Legion of Honour

References

^ Tessier, Carmen (1975), La commère en dit plus, Stock, ISBN 978-2-234-00103-9
^ Aplin, Richard; Montchamp, Joseph (1993), A dictionary of contemporary France, Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 978-0-340-55753-2
^ De Havilland, Olivia (1962). Every Frenchman has one. Elek Books, London
^ Roger Grenier, interviewed by Marianne Payot, 'Roger Grenier: Camus, my big brother' L'Express No. 3253, week of November 6, 2013, pages 78-82.
^ [1]<nowiki>

[1] Tessier, Carmen (1975), La commère en dit plus, Stock, ISBN 978-2-234-00103-9

[2] Aplin, Richard; Montchamp, Joseph (1993), A dictionary of contemporary France, Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 978-0-340-55753-2

[3] De Havilland, Olivia (1962). Every Frenchman has one. Elek Books, London

[4] Roger Grenier, interviewed by Marianne Payot, 'Roger Grenier: Camus, my big brother' L'Express No. 3253, week of November 6, 2013, pages 78-82.

[5] [1]<nowiki>

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 Carmen Tessier was born in [[Allaines]] ([[Eure-et-Loir]]). Secretary to Maurice Bourdet at the ''Le Poste Parisien'' in 1937, she then joined [[Paris-Soir]]. After the [[World War II|Second World War]] and the [[Liberation of Paris|Liberation]], she was refused a [[Press pass|press card]] because she worked for that newspaper during part of the [[German military administration in occupied France during World War II|German occupation]]. In recounting the episode to the journalist [[Jean-Claude Lamy]], she remembers: "Thanks to the intervention of Pierre Lazareff, I was able to appear again before the committee that decided on the granting of the card. The presiding magistrate asked me loudly: "So, madam, what did you do during the war?" "Mr. President, you know it as well as I do: I have reported on the cases you have tried". It was all over. As a consequence, I have the press card No. 750.”<ref>{{Citation | author1=Tessier, Carmen | title=La commère en dit plus | publication-date=1975 | publisher=Stock | isbn=978-2-234-00103-9 }}</ref>
-As a journalist at [[France-Soir]] Tessier became a household name, writing about rumours surrounding celebrities and stars, in a column Le Propos de la commère (or ‘neighbourhood busybody’) that was widely read in France.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Aplin, Richard | author2=Montchamp, Joseph | title=A dictionary of contemporary France | publication-date=1993 | publisher=Hodder & Stoughton | isbn=978-0-340-55753-2 }}</ref> She modelled herself on the American journalist [[Elsa Maxwell]], admired by the director of France-Soir, Pierre Lazareff, when he lived in the United States. Though her writing was ironic and at times caustic, she steered clear of outright scandal. From these revelations she publishes several books, including the collections of her memoires, including the ''Bibliothèque Rosse'', ''Histoires de Marie-Chantal'' and ''La Commère en dit plus''.
+As a journalist at [[France-Soir]] Tessier became a household name, writing about rumours surrounding celebrities and stars, in a column Le Propos de la commère (or ‘neighbourhood busybody’) that was widely read in France.<ref>{{Citation | author1=Aplin, Richard | author2=Montchamp, Joseph | title=A dictionary of contemporary France | publication-date=1993 | publisher=Hodder & Stoughton | isbn=978-0-340-55753-2 }}</ref> She modelled herself on the American journalist [[Elsa Maxwell]], admired by the director of France-Soir, Pierre Lazareff, when he lived in the United States. Though her writing was ironic and at times caustic, she steered clear of outright scandal. From these revelations she publishes several books, including the collections of her memoires, including the ''Bibliothèque Rosse'', ''Histoires de Marie-Chantal'' and ''La Commère en dit plus''. [[Olivia de Havilland]] remarked that her "power and prestige as a lady journalist are unequalled in all of Europe"<ref>De Havilland, Olivia (1962). ''[[Every Frenchman Has One|Every Frenchman has one]]''. Elek Books, London</ref>
 In 1956, when [[Romain Gary]] won the [[Prix Goncourt]] for [[The Roots of Heaven (novel)|Les Racines du ciel]], columnist Tessier suggested that because the writer was from Lithuania, he thus had a poor command of French, so [[Albert Camus]] and Jacques Lemarchand must have written his book for him. Albert Camus then shoots a letter to Charles Gombault, co-director of France-Soir, who said, after reading the missive: "Ok, we will only talk about Camus in this newspaper to announce his death" <ref>Roger Grenier, interviewed by Marianne Payot, 'Roger Grenier: Camus, my big brother' ''L'Express'' No. 3253, week of November 6, 2013, pages 78-82.</ref>