Infuriated by my citation of Talleyrand and recitation of the facts of French history in the Corner over the weekend, a reader from France writes to complain about such “insultes grossieres” against his country and his people. Such insults are nothing more, he believes, than the utterances of a nation of “ parvenus et… réprouvés” (which translates as parvenus and reprobates, or, perhaps outcasts).

Hmm. My initial response is to borrow that useful one word reply used so magnificently by France’s General Cambronne when asked to surrender the Old Guard at Waterloo (look it up – this is a ‘family friendly’ blog).

But on second, more reflective, thoughts, it is interesting to look more carefully at our Frenchman’s choice of insult. ‘Reprobate’ is unsurprising, but, assuming that this correspondent wrongly thought that I am, like Derbyshire, a Yank rather than a ‘rosbif’, it’s fascinating to see ‘parvenu’ included among the jibes.

The Shorter Oxford Dictionary defines a parvenu as a “person of humble origin who has gained wealth or position and risen in society”. In America, Monsieur, that sort of social mobility is a source of pride, not shame.

Now, it is true that the word parvenu comes with a sense that the individual in question is an upstart or is someone in some way unfitted for his new status in society, but generally the people who use that term are those who feel most threatened by the newcomer’s success – faded aristocrats, say, or jealous inadequates.

Which brings me back to France.