I think we all know about Lord Halifax And His Ilk; and really, Unity Mitford? Her parents' daughter. That being said, Laval was actually a very interesting character. I recommend Fred Kupferman's biography (http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/2715806272/qid=1145732888/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_8_3/403-1322440-2661230) (although I'm not sure it was ever translated into English.) Kupferman, who is now dead, was Jewish and is not suspect of nostalgia for the period at all.