General Henri Giraud has always had what the Arabs call the baraka, an uncanny ability to escape death and disaster. He is tall (6 ft. 4 in.), physically powerful, deeply religious, politically conservative, morally self-righteous. He has been wounded six times, cited for bravery 13 times.
No one has ever impugned Giraud's honor, nor had reason to doubt his military valor and his love of France. But when he became High Commissioner of North Africa, succeeding the assassinated Admiral Jean Darlan, the world knew very little else about him.
The man who has told...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
