France Archives - Desperate Living

Despite what some people might claim, the decline of topless sunbathing is not a sign of female liberation or a blow for body positivity.

Not for the faint of heart – a sordid collection of outrageous and extreme pulp fiction novel cover art from France.

The outrageous and provocatively sexual Devilries of the famed French artist. Be warned: this is still eye-popping stuff.

A TV commercial that promotes the nudist lifestyle and brings up interesting questions about sexualisation and moralising.

The long-unseen 1960s BBC adaptations of Georges Simenon’s classic crime novels re-examined.

The French adult producers lend their name to a couple of blonde beers.

The neverending joy of the determinedly moody person.

The fallout of the Charlie Hebdo killings and the brief flowering of support for free speech that followed, remembered five years on.

The bizarre new theme songs that French TV producers added to USTV shows.

A visual guide to the continuing literary adventures of French secret agent Prince Malko Linge.