“Montbars the Exterminator, Jean-David l’Olonais, the Sire de Gramont, Michel the Basque… French buccaneering based on Tortuga Island terrorized the Spanish and English. Here, it’s often said that the propensity for corruption among the ruling classes comes down to us from these forsaken immoral French pillagers...”

Extract from Carnets de voyage 2, Éditions Gallimard 2000.