# Monsieur Chirac — The Old Wives’ Tale character guide

> Monsieur Chirac in The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Chirac, Mr. Chirac, The little Chirac

**First appearance:** 0023-iii-an-ambition-satisfied

## Snapshot

A kind, impecunious French journalist who befriends Sophia in Paris, treating executions as psychological experience and life as something decided in a moment.

## Who they are

Chirac is the sincere, comfortingly gentle Frenchman in Gerald's bohemian circle, forever pronouncing his adjectives with enthusiasm and proposing that one attend a guillotining to observe oneself. He moves through Paris with a casualness that astonishes Sophia — trains caught by seconds, plans made over coffee, old clothes donned for a journey to Auxerre. Through him Sophia glimpses a world where nothing is timetabled a week in advance, and where kindness and improvidence live in the same man.

## In the story

### [Book III: Sophia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-iii-sophia)

A frequent guest at the pension, involved in the daily life of Sophia's new establishment.

### [II: Supper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-supper)

Chirac gallantly escorts Sophia home after Gerald abandons her, displaying manners that Sophia finds more wonderful than any she had imagined.

### [III: An Ambition Satisfied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-an-ambition-satisfied)

Chirac is a thoughtful, kindly man who helps Sophia endure the dinner and is invited to lunch by Gerald.

### [A Crisis for Gerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-a-crisis-for-gerald)

Visits Sophia to recover money Gerald borrowed from his employer's cashbox; accepts repayment from Sophia.

### [Fever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-fever)

Referenced as the one who brought Sophia to the flat; Sophia wonders about his whereabouts and his role in her situation.

### [VI: The Siege](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-the-siege)

Chirac returns from an expedition, urges Sophia to leave Paris, but his eyes betray a different desire.

### [VII: Success](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-success)

Departs on a balloon mission, expressing romantic devotion to Sophia.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/chirac
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters