The morning after Francois Mitterrand's funeral, Le Monde reported that the late president's mistress and illegitimate daughter stood by the grave alongside his wife and sons. That tableau has become famous internationally as proof that the French are not like you and me - at least when it comes to affairs of the heart.

In fact, although French presidents seem to have an infidelity record approaching 100 per cent, they don't deserve to be pilloried alone. Even supposedly more prudish countries have had legendary philanderers, from England's Henry VIII to the US's John F. Kennedy.