To honour the 50th anniversary of Edith Piaf's death, David Bret, Britain's foremost authority on the French chanson, has collated 17 interviews he conducted with those who knew her better than most.
Elisabeth Welch, who introduced her to UK audiences; Louis Dupont, the father of her only child; Damia, the greatest singer in France pre-Piaf; Fernand Lumbroso, her first manager; Michel Emer and Charles Dumont, two of her composers; Manouche, the gangster's moll; Marlene Dietrich; Irene Bevan; singers Dorothy Squires and Peggy Lee; Barbara, France's greatest singer post-Piaf; Bret's godparents Jacqueline Danno and Roger Normand; Catherine Jan; Simone Margantin, her last carer; Claude Sounac. All of these people speak about Piaf with great affection and honesty. These interviews also form part of the separate paperback and hardback publications, 'Piaf: Interviews With Those Who Knew Her' which include the two-act play, 'The Piaf We Loved'and many photographs from David Bret's personal collection.
