This book is the outstanding history of the commune, the heroic battles fought in its defence, and the bloody massacre that ended the uprising. Im going to paris at the end of january, and as usual i like to read as much as i can about the place im going. What are the best nonfiction books on 19th century french. May 18, 2015 a dreamy paris vacation is probably every girls dream, but the glorious french capital seems to hold a particular sway for the litlovers among us. A dreamy paris vacation is probably every girls dream, but the glorious french capital seems to hold a particular sway for the litlovers among us. Traveling through french history by train, was simple, if somewhat arbitrary. Paris is a city of artistic inspiration for writers, painters, and dreamers alike. Turnbull, a popular history of france by francois guizot, history of france by jacques bainville, napoleon iii by fenton bresler. Alistair hornes book is an excellent and very readable history of paris. Frances national library in paris is a haven for both readers and researchers, who silently flick through its 14 million books. The wall street journal, december 12, 2009 a work of art in and of itself. Europe best books on paris history we will be spending 10 days in paris this june.
Reading a few books set in paris will get you yearning for an overseas adventure. Seven ages of paris by alistair horne, the age of napoleon by will and ariel durant, the revolution of 1830 by d. A member of the leading hotels of the world marketing group, the ritz paris is ranked among the most luxurious hotels in the world. It was manufactured in france and has the original braun label on the back numbered 39358. The ritz paris is a hotel in central paris, overlooking the place vendome in the citys 1st arrondissement. The paris catacombs french historical studies duke. In what may be the most overdue book of the past 100 years, historian hallie rubenhold steals back the narrative of jack the ripper and tells the stories that really matter. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for books to. Poppy, whose religious activity had been intense all through the lenten season at times cass had thought that if she brought one more fish into the house he would throttle her, reached a kind of peak of fervour during holy week.
A social history of nineteenthcentury france by roger. Yet, as the largest country in europe, it is a place of huge diversity. The majority of the book is spent focused on late 19th and early 20 thcentury paris, with only a brief chapter covering the french revolutiona slight disappointment in an otherwise fantastic book, mainly because i would have loved to see the history of the revolution through the eyes of the novels characters. I have recommended it to everyone i know with an interest in france. If your children are too young to appreciate a trip to the city of lights, i recommend curling up with a few picture books featuring croissants, baguettes, macarons and crepes hmm, i may be a little hungry and taking a little armchair holiday. When we think of france we often evoke images of fine food and wine, the elegant boulevards of paris, the chic beaches of st tropez.
Most travellers agree that paris deserves a return trip. The best books about paris you need to read the local. His literary anthology, americans in paris, is also recommended. The best fiction, nonfiction, history, memoir, food, and travel books about paris, france. Citizens by simon schama this book is a standout among all history books, not just those about french history. It was shot in an american studio and there is not one single view of paris but it is a charming picture of a romantic paris of dream. Here are some of the best books ever written about about paris, according to authors in france. Oct 28, 2005 i think youre mixing up the french revolution there with the later commune there marat etc were part of the orignal paris commune during the revolution, but the one thats best know today is the 1871 one that sprung up following the francoprussian war. In paris, a hotel with a history gets a stylish makeover. The recipe ina caro followed in writing paris to the past. Charlotte in paris beacon street girls special adventure by annie bryant and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Paris by edward rutherfurd, the little paris bookshop by nina george, lilac girls by martha hall kelly, the nightingale by kr. Sep 25, 20 lisa appignanesis top 10 books about paris. The novel selected, the great trouble, introduces childhood labor, the cholera.
This second feature covers historical fiction classics and new books alike. The 1889 exposition universelle in paris has become famous as a turning point in the history of french music, and modern music generally. My students need a classroom set of the great trouble to study historical fiction. Nov 02, 2006 im going to paris at the end of january, and as usual i like to read as much as i can about the place im going. This one is the story of the growth of paris from its beginning before roman times as an island village to louis viii and the archives of st. With the rise of a wealthy middle class and the presence of a bored, dissolute aristocracy, paris between and was awhirl with dinner parties, masked balls, stage productions, and gambling fever.
Built on two millennia of history, paris is as much a city to fall in love with as a city to photograph. Bnf is the national library of france, located in paris. Or, conversely, write a kind of travel guide to historical paris arranged chronologically. Browse our extensive book collection and purchase securely online. Has anyone read an interesting book about parisian history, or could recommend one of the above books.
For the first time, debussy and his fellow composers could be inspired by javanese gamelan music, while the russian concerts conducted by rimskykorsakov brought recent music by the mighty five to parisian ears. Searching on amazon, i found seven ages of paris by alistair horne and paris. Any recommendations for historical fiction set in france, especially paris. In 1871, the working class of paris, incensed by their lack of political power and tired of being exploited, seized control of the capital. Best books on paris history fodors travel talk forums. He focusses on what the people of france did to make their own revolution, rather than on the leaders, and i think he does it rather well. Is it any wonder why legions of literary folks have succumbed to her beauty.
Beyond the books documentary interest, the history of paris in painting is a record of how changing tastes in art can shape what is known to future generations. This will assist them with meeting common core standards. Recent outbreaks of the ebola virus have prompted my students to question similar historical outbreaks of diseases. The idea of frenchness emerged from over 2000 years of history and it is a riveting story from roman conquest to the present day.
Humes, and george plimpton, with plimpton also serving as the first editor. I have tried quite a few books on the history of france and this was by far the best. Of necessity it is selective, since it would be impossible to cover the more than two thousand year history of the city without passing over some of the less significant periods. Everything you need to know about paris newly reopened. Book of hours, use of paris, in latin and french, illuminated manuscript on vellum paris, c. This anthology includes essays by literary greats from. Feb 28, 2017 seven ages of paris by alistair horne, the age of napoleon by will and ariel durant, the revolution of 1830 by d. Perhaps the citys own history is the most interesting story of them all.
With 12 fullpage reproductions of watercolours and numerous illustrations in line by millicent sowerby. A history in footsteps reprint by hazan, eric, fernbach, david isbn. This novel, which was released in 2007, tells the story of hugo cabret, an orphan, clock keeper, and thief, who lives in the walls of a parisian train. This collection of essays and journal entries explores the idiosyncrasies of life in france from a new yorkers point of view. Paris is one of the worlds most important hotbeds of experimentation in art and literature.
By an accident of history, i spent part of my early childhood in paris and french became my first spoken language. Art nouveau architecture and artistic movements like impressionism take the world by storm. While we could regale you with renovation details, what impresses at the. History of the village crillon le brave luxury hotel. I want to read a book about the history of parisand would like a recommendation if anyone has read a good one. Nineteenthcentury france, like other european nations, experienced a complex of changes involving industrialization, urbanization, the commercialization of agriculture, the greater cultural integration of provincial societies into the national whole, politicization and the growth of the modern bureaucratic state. The belle epoque opens, another artistically and culturally fertile time in paris history. The legendary palace offers a refined and illustrious history, encapsulating the very best france has to offer. Nov 24, 2016 here are some of the best books ever written about about paris, according to authors in france. The 1920s paris of hemingway, chanel, cocteau, cole porter, josephine baker, and their friends mary mcauliffe. Excerpt the decision to use the bomb might better be described as a series of decisions not to disturb the momentum of a process that was more than three years old by the spring of 1945 and was rapidly moving toward its all but inevitable climax. One of the greatest american movies is the delightful an american in paris directed by vicente minelli in 1951, starring gene kelly and leslie caron with a music by george gershwin.
Take a literary tour with our selection of novels set in paris, memoirs about life in paris and. May 27, 20 reading a few books set in paris will get you yearning for an overseas adventure. Along with travel and history books, id like to add in some good historical fiction. Best historical fiction in paris score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. It has been listed since 1900 as a monument historique by the french ministry of culture. It is the national repository of all that is published in france and also holds extensive historical collections. Lisa appignanesis top 10 books about paris books the. This exhaustively researched study should be the definitive diplomatic history of the fall of louis. Jan 19, 2018 frances national library in paris is a haven for both readers and researchers, who silently flick through its 14 million books. A place in the world called paris steven barclay, 1994.
Travel guides paris, provinces, art books, language, history, literature of french authors, playwrights, etc. The king of vaucluse, mont ventoux overlooks the surrounds of its majestic silhouette, snowcapped in winter and sundrenched in summer. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mar 19, 2019 check out this list of product summaries, that highlight the pros and cons of some standout books on french history. France 24 takes you behind the scenes to meet the librarys restorers. Louis xvi, marie antoinette, and the fall of the french monarchy. Some of the worlds most cherished books are set in paris. This history of the revolution from the early days to the start of the directory is no less than fascinating but perhaps too baroque for the younger student. A social history of nineteenthcentury france by roger price. Some of the worlds most cherished books are set in paris, or other parts of france. Reality meets history at the hand of a master writer in each of druons books.
585 1375 1293 1363 34 961 1252 1007 805 1612 36 1519 423 791 224 564 961 166 359 942 1109 1319 1135 1578 968 193 945 75 3 896 1651 974 1559 70 1541 164 520 762 1517 168 982 36 1326 243 846 414 1064 63