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Martine Assouline was Awarded a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur

At a private reception at Christie’s in New York last week, the Assouline Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief was presented with a medal from the highest French order for military and civil merit, first created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
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Guy Wildenstein, Christy Ferer, and Martine Assouline; Image by Dasha Brook

On the second floor of Christie’s, seemingly far away from the bustling hoards of holiday travelers on 5th Avenue, friends, family, and colleagues gathered to see Martine Assouline be presented with the honorary medal last week. The National Order of the Legion of Honour is the highest French order for merit under the motto "Honour and Fatherland,” and it has been retained by the government since the time of Napoleon. There are five degrees of distinction, and Martine was given the medal for Chevalier (Knight). 

Mingling in the crowd ahead of the ceremony were French actor Jean Reno and Bergdorf Goodman fashion executive Linda Fargo. Other prominent guests included the Consul General of France Cédrik Fouriscot, Ladurée President Elisabeth Holder Raberin and her husband Pierre, and legendary stylist and art director Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele.

Christy Ferer, a renowned public servant, entrepreneur, and journalist, as well as an Officier de la Légion d’honneur, was in attendance to present the award. “It’s been almost half a century since my life became entwined with the Assoulines. I’m going to cry,” she said. She spoke of first meeting Martine all that time ago, likening her during her speech to a graceful gazelle, a femme fatale, tough and brilliant like a diamond, someone with “ink in her blood,” and a dream machine. “[Prosper and Martine] have created a global library and a way of looking at the world through books—creating some of the most iconic and visually rich images” she went on to say. “They’ve been called the Gainsbourg and Birkin of luxury publishing. But I like to call them, like Brangelina, let’s just call them Prospine!” This was met with a great deal of laughter around the room. Ferer closed out her remarks by calling to attention the thousands of dollars Martine has collected for the non-for-profit Paris Brain Institute America. 

Following Ferer, the president of the American Society of the French Legion of Honor, Guy Wildenstein, then shared the story of the legion for guests, and why Martine’s eminent services deserved this recognition from France. “It is often said that true leaders do not simply adapt to the times, they shape them,” Wildenstein recalled. Looking back, Napoleon sought to unify the nation and create a new elite that wasn’t based solely on class. “It was Napoleon’s way of answering the question: What kind of society do we want to be? His answer was clear: A society where merit is honored, where excellence is celebrated, and where every individual has the opportunity to rise to greatness through their contributions.” Wildenstein then officially bestowed upon Martine the distinction of the Legion of Honor and placed the medal on her lapel. 

As Martine approached the podium, there were lightly visible tears in her eyes, and honor and pride were shining through in her voice. “Thank you for being here, you all represent important steps from my life in New York,” she said. She touched on her early studies in law, her adoration for New York, her great love and partnership with Prosper, and why she chose the brain in her philanthropic work. “I must confess, it’s not too bad to be in the spotlight for the first time,” Martine joked. She thanked Assouline and her family, most of whom were in attendance such as her husband Prosper and two sons, Alexandre and Sebastian. She then thanked her friends, those who are “a part of my American dream. And I am proud that today France announced to you the person I have become.” She closed with a quote from writer Jorge Luis Borges about how we as people find out who we are in one decisive moment. “Maybe tonight” was that night for her, she suggested, and everyone applauded. 

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