Why posting two versions of the same story ?

I could answer very simply that it's because it was first written in French. But there is another reason : there is no decent French site where I could possibly post it. The few ones I visited are offering the French equivalent of the very dregs of Nifty. I am not fussy, but there are limits to what one is willing to endure in order to be read.

Awesome Dude, to me, is something like an oasis in which I can enjoy well written fiction. A place where language is not routinely abused and words of more than three syllabs used without fear of being misunderstood. I can even discuss in forums that are completely free of these awful verbal rebuses used in 'texting'.

I asked to be allowed to post the French version of Julien here and I consider myself honoured to be able to do so among people I respect and whose works I can appreciate.

So if you are an English speaker who also happens to love French, read the wonderful translation by my friend David Clarke, but don't hesitate to sample the original and wonder if you would have been as good as him in rendering not the words, but the very spirit of the story. I know I could not. Believe me : I tried !