To see the full show notes, including a full list of sources and music used for this episode, visit the podcast webpage at Paris Unlocked.

More than a mere diva, Piaf was something of a force of nature. She had an uncanny ability to reach a wide public with her soaring, guttural voice, but also with her odd physical presence. She captivated audiences around the world with her repertoire of French working-class dance hall hits, love songs and portraits of marginalized women, from prostitutes to penniless, unmarried mademoiselles embarking on ill-fated affairs with military men.

In this first of two episodes on Piaf, we'll ad ...