- Table View
- List View
Paris Primitive: Jacques Chirac's Museum on the Quai Branly
by Sally PriceParis Primitive recounts the massive reconfiguration of Paris’s museum world that resulted from Chirac’s dream, set against a backdrop of personal and national politics, intellectual life, and the role of culture in French society. Along with exposing the machinations that led to the MQB’s creation, Sally Price addresses the thorny questions it raises about the legacy of colonialism, the balance between aesthetic judgments and ethnographic context, and the role of institutions of art and culture in an increasingly diverse France.
Paris Revealed: The Secret Life of a City
by Stephen ClarkeA hilarious insider&’s guide to Paris by the author of 1000 Years of Annoying the French: &“Clarke&’s eye for detail is terrific&” (The Washington Post). Stephen Clarke may have adopted Paris as his home, but he still has an Englishman&’s eye for the people, cafés, art, sidewalks, food, fashion, and romance that make Paris a one-of-a-kind city. This irreverent outsider-turned-insider guide shares local savoir faire, from how to separate the good restaurants from the bad to navigating the baffling Métro system. It also provides invaluable insights into the etiquette of public urination and the best ways to experience Parisian life without annoying the Parisians (a truly delicate art). Clarke&’s witty and expert tour of the city leaves no boulevard unexplored—even those that might be better left alone.
Paris Times Eight: Finding Myself in the City of Dreams
by Deirdre Kelly&“Very engaging . . . This charming travel memoir shows us how a person and a city can grow and change in tandem.&” —Booklist Over eight visits to Paris, Deirdre Kelly has found herself—first as a nineteen-year-old and then later as a budding writer, a dance critic, and a fashion reporter. Subsequent visits—with her mother, her future husband, and later as a mother herself—have shown her that while some parts of Paris remain constant, her life is always evolving. More than just a beautiful and romantic backdrop for her self-discovery, Paris itself contributes to that discovery, emerging as a principal character in Kelly&’s life, an influence that inspires, guides, and teaches as she ages. A terrific gift for budding travelers, Francophiles, and women on their own path toward growth, this book reminds readers of their own favorite place. &“A poignant, honest, and deliciously sexy coming-of-age story.&” —Jan Wong, national bestselling author of Beijing Confidential &“Deirdre Kelly&’s writing is fast-paced and full of color and gives the reader an insider&’s view. She gets it right.&” —Sally Armstrong, national bestselling author of The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor &“Takes the reader on a colorful travelogue along the narrow streets of the Marais district, the spectacular Tuileries gardens and the bustling Galleries Lafayette department store . . . a fast-paced, breezy read, its substance subtly woven into a tale of a city whose glamour and beauty never fades.&” —Ottawa Citizen &“At times pensive, sardonic and laugh-out-loud funny, as it chronicles a real life with all its comedies and tragedies.&” —Calgary Herald
Paris Walks: Seven Intimate Walking Tours of Paris's Most Historic and Enchanting Quarters
by Sonia Landes Alison Landes Rebecca LandesThe perfect walking guide to Paris and its history, now in a thoroughly updated sixth editionFull of architectural detail, unique advice, and historical anecdotes, Pariswalks allows the reader to do as the Parisians do--take to the streets on foot to discover the secret splendors of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Sonia, Alison, and Rebecca Landes lead the reader through the maze of Paris's hidden back streets and into the tiny shops, secluded courtyards, underground cellars, and serene interiors that tourists rarely see.In this newly revised edition, readers will find completely updated walks covering the most interesting neighborhoods of central Paris, from the Place de la Bastille to the Boulevard St.-Germain, and an all new tour of the Place de la Concorde. Each walk is easily completed in a morning or afternoon and suggests shopping, dining, and cultural stops.Featuring maps, more than forty black-and-white photographs, and a select list of restaurants and hotels, Pariswalks is the essential companion to the hidden wonders of the City of Lights.
Paris Was Ours: Thirty-two Writers Reflect on the City of Light
by Penelope RowlandsParis is “the world capital of memory and desire,” concludes one of the writers in this intimate and insightful collection of memoirs of the city. Living in Paris changed these writers forever. In thirty-two personal essays—more than half of which are here published for the first time—the writers describe how they were seduced by Paris and then began to see things differently. They came to write, to cook, to find love, to study, to raise children, to escape, or to live the way it’s done in French movies; they came from the United States, Canada, and England; from Iran, Iraq, and Cuba; and—a few—from other parts of France. And they stayed, not as tourists, but for a long time; some are still living there. They were outsiders who became insiders, who here share their observations and revelations. Some are well-known writers: Diane Johnson, David Sedaris, Judith Thurman, Joe Queenan, and Edmund White. Others may be lesser known but are no less passionate on the subject. Together, their reflections add up to an unusually perceptive and multifaceted portrait of a city that is entrancing, at times exasperating, but always fascinating. They remind us that Paris belongs to everyone it has touched, and to each in a different way.
Paris Without Her: A Memoir
by Gregory CurtisIn this moving, tender memoir of losing a beloved spouse, the longtime editor of Texas Monthly, newly widowed, returns alone to a city whose enchantment he's only ever shared with his wife, in search of solace, memories, and the courage to find a way forward.At the age of sixty-six, after thirty-five years of marriage, Gregory Curtis finds himself a widower. Tracy--with whom he fell in love the first time he saw her--has succumbed to a long battle with cancer. Paralyzed by grief, agonized by social interaction, Curtis turns to watching magic lessons on DVD--"a pathetic, almost comical substitute" for his evenings with Tracy.To break the spell, he returns to the place he had the "best and happiest times" of his life. As he navigates the storied city and contemplates his new future, Curtis relives his days in Paris with Tracy, piecing together the portrait of a woman, a marriage, parenthood, and his life's great love through the memories of six unforgettable trips to the City of Lights.Alone in Paris, Curtis becomes a tireless wanderer, exploring the city's grand boulevards and forgotten corners as he confronts the bewildering emotional state that ensues after losing a life partner. Paris Without Her is a work of tremendous courage and insight--an ode to the lovely woman who was his wife, to a magnificent city, and to the self we might invent, and reinvent, there.
Paris and Her Cathedrals
by R. Howard BlochFor history readers, travelers, and scholars alike, an indispensable behind-the-scenes guide to the great cathedrals of Paris. “So infectious is R. Howard Bloch’s passion for his subject that even those unable to do the traveling required will find in Paris and Her Cathedrals an inspiring guide to these time-hallowed masterpieces of medieval culture.” —Colin Jones, author of Paris and The Great Nation Over the years, R. Howard Bloch has become renowned for the insider tours of Paris that he gives to students abroad. Long sought after by travelers and history buffs for his near-encyclopedic knowledge of French cathedrals, the eminent French literature scholar finally shares his expertise with a wider audience. In Paris and Her Cathedrals, six of the most sublime cathedrals in the penumbra of Paris—Saint-Denis, Notre-Dame, Chartres, Sainte-Chapelle, Amiens, Reims—are illumined in magnificent detail as Bloch, taking us from the High Middle Ages to the devastating fire that set Notre-Dame ablaze in 2019, traces the evolution of each in turn. Written from the premise that “seeing is enhanced by knowing,” each chapter is organized along the lines of a walk around and then through the space of the cathedral, such that the actual or virtual visitor feels the rich sweep of the church, “the essence of these architectural wonders” (Antonia Felix). Animating the past with lush evocations of architectural splendor—from flying buttresses and jewel-encrusted shrines to hidden burial grounds and secret chambers—Bloch then contextualizes the cathedrals within the annals of French history. Here thrilling tales of kingly intrigue—as in Saint-Chapelle, where the pious King Louis IX amassed relics, including Christ’s crown of thorns—and audacious abbots are interspersed with anecdotes about the meeting of aristocratic and everyday life, culminating in “a rich, colorful narrative that clearly but expertly explains the history and symbolism of some of the world’s most magnificent buildings” (Ross King). To be read in preparation for an enlightened visit or merely to open a window upon the High Middle Ages in France, Paris and Her Cathedrals is a “revelation,” an “indispensable guide” (Garry Wills) to these awe-inspiring structures. Complete with the author’s own photographs, this beautifully illustrated volume vitally enhances our understanding of the history of Paris and its environs.
Paris at the End of the World
by John BaxterA preeminent writer on Paris, John Baxter brilliantly brings to life one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods in the city's history. During World War I, the terrifying sounds of the nearby front could be heard from inside the French capital; Germany's "Paris Gun" and enemy aviators routinely bombarded the city.And yet in its darkest hour, the City of Light blazed more brightly than ever. Its taxis shuttled troops to the front; its great railway stations received reinforcements from across the world; its grand museums and cathedrals housed the wounded; and the Eiffel Tower hummed at all hours, relaying messages to and from the trenches. At night, Parisians lived with urgency and without inhibition, embracing the lush and the libertine. The rich hosted parties that depleted their wine cellars of the finest vintages. Artists such as Pablo Picasso achieved new creative heights. And the war brought a wave of foreigners to the city for the first time, including Ernest Hemingway and Baxter's own grandfather, Archie, whose diaries he uses to reconstruct a soldier's-eye view of the war years.Uncovering a thrilling chapter in Paris's history, John Baxter's revelatory new book shows how this extraordinary period was essential in forging the spirit of the city we love today.
Paris for Beginners: A memoir about love, adventure and finding yourself in the city of lights
by Rachael CoopesEnchanting, amusing, life-affirming and wise.' Toni PearenSometimes the best compass to follow is your heart.Actress Rachael Coopes had a serious boyfriend and successful career in Australia when she was awarded a scholarship to study at a renowned clown school in Paris.It was the opportunity of a lifetime, so she upped sticks and fully surrendered herself to the possibilities of Paris. Cue a coveted pied-à-terre with a view of the Eiffel Tower, quaffing champagne at midnight with her glamorous new amies, and learning how to flirt in French. But for all its charm and sensual pleasures, Paris had a hard lesson or two to teach her about life, and love.Paris for Beginners is about growing up (even when you're already, supposedly, a fully-fledged adult) and figuring out what you need in life, set against the perennially alluring backdrop of the City of Lights.
Paris from the Ground Up
by James H. S. McgregorParis is the most personal of cities. There is a Paris for the medievalist, and another for the modernist-a Paris for expatriates, philosophers, artists, romantics, and revolutionaries of every stripe. James H. S. McGregor brings these multiple perspectives into focus throughout this concise, unique history of the City of Light. His panorama begins with an ancient Gallic fortress on the Seine, burned to the ground by its own defenders in a vain effort to starve out Caesar's legions. After ninth-century raids by the Vikings ended, Parisians expanded the walls of their tiny sanctuary on the Ile de la Cité, turning the river#x19;s right bank into a thriving commercial district and the Rive Gauche into a college town. Gothic spires expressed a taste for architectural novelty, matched only by the palaces and pleasure gardens of successive monarchs whose ingenuity made Paris the epitome of everything French. The fires of Revolution threatened all that had come before, but Baron Haussmann saw opportunity in the wreckage. No planned city in the world is more famous than his. Paris from the Ground Up allows readers to trace the city's evolution in its architecture and art-from the Roman arena to the Musée Orsay, from the Louvre's defensive foundations to I. M. Pei's transparent pyramids.
Paris from the Ground Up (From The Ground Up Ser. #10)
by James H. McGregorParis is the most personal of cities. There is a Paris for the medievalist, and another for the modernist—a Paris for expatriates, philosophers, artists, romantics, and revolutionaries of every stripe. James H. S. McGregor brings these multiple perspectives into focus throughout this concise, unique history of the City of Light. His panorama begins with an ancient Gallic fortress on the Seine, burned to the ground by its own defenders in a vain effort to starve out Caesar’s legions. After ninth-century raids by the Vikings ended, Parisians expanded the walls of their tiny sanctuary on the Ile de la Cité, turning the river’s right bank into a thriving commercial district and the Rive Gauche into a college town. Gothic spires expressed a taste for architectural novelty, matched only by the palaces and pleasure gardens of successive monarchs whose ingenuity made Paris the epitome of everything French. The fires of Revolution threatened all that had come before, but Baron Haussmann saw opportunity in the wreckage. No planned city in the world is more famous than his. Paris from the Ground Up allows readers to trace the city’s evolution in its architecture and art—from the Roman arena to the Musée d’Orsay, from the Louvre’s defensive foundations to I. M. Pei’s transparent pyramids. Color maps, along with identifying illustrations, make the city accessible to visitors by foot, Metro, or riverboat.
Paris in Bloom
by Georgianna Lane&“Get ready for a beauty overload. It&’s food for the soul, it&’s a book of dreams and details, of flowers so perfect you want to hug them to you.&” —Carla Coulson, author of Paris Tango Paris—City of Love, City of Light, City of Flowers. From elegant floral boutiques to lively flower markets to glorious blooming trees and expansive public gardens, flowers are the essential ingredient to the lush sensory bouquet that is Parisian life. With beautiful photography, Paris in Bloom transports readers on a stunning floral tour of the city, and provides recommendations to the best flower markets and a detailed guide to spring blooms. Timeless in content, Paris in Bloom is a book for Paris lovers to savor again and again, one to keep on the nightstand to conjure fond memories of their first visit and inspire dreams of the next. &“Brilliantly captures the splendor of French fleurs with lush photographs and elegant prose . . . A masterpiece!&” —Laura Dowling, former chief floral designer at the White House &“I don&’t know how Georgianna does it. She manages to make Paris, already the most beautiful city in the world, appear even more charming, more elegant and more beautiful than it already is . . . Paris in Bloom is filled with a veritable carpet of pinks and whites, pastels and green portraits that make me let out an audible sigh of joy. This book can re-inspire you to believe that yes, life really is quite beautiful.&” —Doni Belau, author of Paris Cocktails &“Destined to become a classic of its type, Paris in Bloom is Georgianna Lane&’s love letter to Paris and to flowers.&”—Gray Levett, editor of Nikon Owner magazine
Paris in Color
by Nichole RobertsonThe City of Light comes alive with color in this “fresh, ‘oh!’-inducing look at the palette of a city we only thought we knew” (Real Simple).Take a journey through the world’s most romantic city, traveling from color to magnificent color with this beguiling book. An orange café chair, bright blue bicycles against a fence, a weathered white door—Nichole Robertson’s sumptuous photographs of the distinctive details of Paris, all arranged by color, evoke a sense of serendipitous discovery and celebrate the city as never before. At once a work of art and a window into the heart of the city, Paris in Color will surprise and delight those who love art, design, color, and, of course, Paris!
Paris in Love
by Nichole RobertsonThe author of Paris in Color narrows her scope, celebrating the French capital with alluring and romantic photographs of the city&’s come-hither reds. A pair of scarlet-rimmed coffee cups, two glasses of Bordeaux, light glowing rosily from a street lamp, a bouquet of bright red flowers—Nichole Robertson&’s follow-up to the beloved Paris in Color captures the hidden corners and secret moments that make Paris the most romantic city in the world. A love letter in rouge to the City of Light, Paris in Love is the perfect valentine for anyone who adores Paris! &“A beautiful ode that will leave you pining for Paris.&” —Lindsey Tramuta, author of The New Paris &“That magic feeling you get when you are falling in love with a person or place—in this case Paris!—is encapsulated in this stunning gem of a book.&” —Samantha Hahn, author of Well-Read Women &“We&’re smitten by Nichole Robertson&’s Paris in Love, which celebrates all things Parisian—especially crimson things, from raspberry tarts to scarlet mopeds, rosy begonias and glossy, berry-hued cafe chairs—in glorious photographs.&” —San Jose Mercury News
Paris in Love: A Memoir
by Eloisa James<P>In 2009, New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James took a leap that many people dream about: she sold her house, took a sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor, and moved her family to Paris. <P>Paris in Love: A Memoir chronicles her joyful year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With no classes to teach, no committee meetings to attend, no lawn to mow or cars to park, Eloisa revels in the ordinary pleasures of life--discovering corner museums that tourists overlook, chronicling Frenchwomen's sartorial triumphs, walking from one end of Paris to another. <P>She copes with her Italian husband's notions of quality time; her two hilarious children, ages eleven and fifteen, as they navigate schools--not to mention puberty--in a foreign language; and her mother-in-law Marina's raised eyebrow in the kitchen (even as Marina overfeeds Milo, the family dog). <P>Paris in Love invites the reader into the life of a most enchanting family, framed by la ville de l'amour. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Paris in Love: A Memoir
by Eloisa JamesA New York Times Bestseller. After years of living vicariously through the heroines in her novels, bestselling author Eloisa James takes a leap that most of us can only daydream about. She sells her house, leaves her job as a Shakespeare professor, and packs her husband and two protesting children off to Paris. Grand plans are abandoned as she falls under the spell of daily life as a Parisienne exquisite food, long walks by the Seine, reading in bed, displays of effortless chic around every corner, and being reminded of what really matters in a place where people seem to kiss all the time. Against one of the world s most picturesque backdrops, she copes with her Italian husband s notions of quality time; her two hilarious children, ages eleven and fifteen, as they navigate schools not to mention puberty in a foreign language; and her formidable mother-in-law, Marina, who believes dogs should be fed prosciutto and wives should live in the kitchen. An irresistible love letter to a city that will make you want to head there, Paris in Love is also a joyful testament to the pleasures of savouring life.
Paris to the Moon: A Family In France (A\vintage Original Ser.)
by Adam GopnikParis. The name alone conjures images of chestnut-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés, breathtaking façades around every corner--in short, an exquisite romanticism that has captured the American imagination for as long as there have been Americans. In 1995, Adam Gopnik, his wife, and their infant son left the familiar comforts and hassles of New York City for the urbane glamour of the City of Light. Gopnik is a longtime New Yorker writer, and the magazine has sent its writers to Paris for decades--but his was above all a personal pilgrimage to the place that had for so long been the undisputed capital of everything cultural and beautiful. It was also the opportunity to raise a child who would know what it was to romp in the Luxembourg Gardens, to enjoy a croque monsieur in a Left Bank café--a child (and perhaps a father, too) who would have a grasp of that Parisian sense of style we Americans find so elusive. So, in the grand tradition of the American abroad, Gopnik walked the paths of the Tuileries, enjoyed philosophical discussions at his local bistro, wrote as violet twilight fell on the arrondissements. Of course, as readers of Gopnik's beloved and award-winning "Paris Journals" in The New Yorker know, there was also the matter of raising a child and carrying on with day-to-day, not-so-fabled life. Evenings with French intellectuals preceded middle-of-the-night baby feedings; afternoons were filled with trips to the Musée d'Orsay and pinball games; weekday leftovers were eaten while three-star chefs debated a "culinary crisis."As Gopnik describes in this funny and tender book, the dual processes of navigating a foreign city and becoming a parent are not completely dissimilar journeys--both hold new routines, new languages, a new set of rules by which everyday life is lived. With singular wit and insight, Gopnik weaves the magical with the mundane in a wholly delightful, often hilarious look at what it was to be an American family man in Paris at the end of the twentieth century. "We went to Paris for a sentimental reeducation-I did anyway-even though the sentiments we were instructed in were not the ones we were expecting to learn, which I believe is why they call it an education."
Paris to the Past: Traveling through French History by Train
by Ina Caro"I'd rather go to France with Ina Caro than with ?Henry Adams or Henry James."--Newsweek In one of the most inventive travel books in years, Ina Caro invites readers on twenty-five one-day train trips that depart from Paris and transport us back through seven hundred years of French history. Whether taking us to Orléans to evoke the visions of Joan of Arc or to the Place de la Concorde to witness the beheading of Marie Antoinette, Caro animates history with her lush descriptions of architectural splendors and tales of court intrigue. "[An] enchanting travelogue" (Publishers Weekly), Paris to the Past has become one of the classic guidebooks of our time.
Paris to the Pyrenees
by David DowniePart adventure story, part cultural history, this &“enjoyably offbeat travelogue&” explores the phenomenon of the spiritual pilgrimage (Booklist). Driven by curiosity, wanderlust, and health crises, Downie and his wife walk across Paris on the old pilgrimage route Rue Saint-Jacques then trek about 750 miles south to Roncesvalles, Spain. The eccentric route would take 72 days on Roman roads and The Way of Saint James, the 1,100-year-old pilgrimage network leading to the sanctuary of Saint James the Greater in Spain. It is best known as El Camino de Santiago de Compostela - The Way for short. The object of any pilgrimage is an inward journey manifested in a long, reflective walk. For Downie, the inward journey meets the outer one. More than 20,000 pilgrims take the highly commercialized Spanish route annually, but few cross France. Downie had a goal: to go from Paris to the Pyrenees on age-old trails, making the pilgrimage in his own maverick way.
Paris to the Pyrenees: A Skeptic Pilgrim Walks the Way of Saint James
by David DowniePart adventure story, part cultural history, Paris to the Pyrenees explores the phenomenon of pilgrimage along the age-old way of Saint James Driven by curiosity, wanderlust, and health crises, David Downie and his wife set out from Paris to walk across France to the Pyrenees. Starting on the Rue Saint-Jacques, then trekking 750 miles south to Roncesvalles, Spain, their eccentric route takes 72 days on Roman roads and pilgrimage paths--a 1,100-year-old network of trails leading to the sanctuary of Saint James the Greater. It is best known as El Camino de Santiago de Compostela--"The Way" for short. The object of any pilgrimage is an inward journey manifested in a long, reflective walk. For Downie, the inward journey met the outer one: a combination of self-discovery and physical regeneration. More than 200,000 pilgrims take the highly commercialized Spanish route annually, but few cross France. Downie had a goal: to go from Paris to the Pyrenees on age-old trails, making the pilgrimage in his own maverick way.
Paris versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities
by Vahram Muratyan"In his witty, high-concept, high-colored flibook, Mr. Muratyan's thesis emerges playfully on every page: Vive la différence!" -- The New York TimesA beautiful gift book of a popular travel journal as told by a lover of Paris wandering through New YorkWhen Vahram Muratyan began his online travel journal, Paris versus New York, he had no idea how quickly it would become one of the most buzzed-about sites on the Internet—it garnered more than a million and a half page views in just a few months, and the attention of savvy online critics. Now Muratyan presents his unique observations in this delightful book, featuring visually striking graphics paired with witty, thought-provoking taglines that celebrate the special details of each city. Paris versus New York is a heartfelt gift to denizens of both cities and to those who dream of big-city romance.
Paris, Block by Block: An Illustrated Guide to the Best of France's Capital
by Cierra BlockParis is seen the world over as one of the most beautiful, romantic and iconic cities you can visit, and it has more places to eat and things to see than you could manage in a lifetime. Paris, Block by Block is the essential guide to the unmissable places to go, covering everything from restaurants to boutiques, galleries to parks, all illustrated with 50 of Cierra Block's distinctive maps. Each map starts with an idea – it might be, Where's the best croissant in Paris? What is the place everyone should visit in the Latin Quarter? Or, where can you lose hours people-watching? From there, Cierra has curated a list of the best places from Montmartre to The Marais, Champs Élysées to St-Germain, and has painted a charming accompanying map. Patisserie to fashion, the most impressive views to Seine-side activities, there really is something for everyone.The follow-up to 2022's London Block by Block and 2023's New York Block by Block, this book will be an inspiration for all, whether it's your first visit to the city, a seasoned traveller or an all-your-life local. That's the wonderful thing about Paris – there's always more to explore!
Paris, Block by Block: An Illustrated Guide to the Best of France's Capital
by Cierra BlockParis is seen the world over as one of the most beautiful, romantic and iconic cities you can visit, and it has more places to eat and things to see than you could manage in a lifetime. Paris, Block by Block is the essential guide to the unmissable places to go, covering everything from restaurants to boutiques, galleries to parks, all illustrated with 50 of Cierra Block's distinctive maps. Each map starts with an idea – it might be, Where's the best croissant in Paris? What is the place everyone should visit in the Latin Quarter? Or, where can you lose hours people-watching? From there, Cierra has curated a list of the best places from Montmartre to The Marais, Champs Élysées to St-Germain, and has painted a charming accompanying map. Patisserie to fashion, the most impressive views to Seine-side activities, there really is something for everyone.The follow-up to 2022's London Block by Block and 2023's New York Block by Block, this book will be an inspiration for all, whether it's your first visit to the city, a seasoned traveller or an all-your-life local. That's the wonderful thing about Paris – there's always more to explore!
Paris, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down
by Rosecrans BaldwinA fresh, exhilarating take on one of the world's most popular topics—Paris, the City of Light!—by an acclaimed novelist Rosecrans BaldwinA self-described Francophile since the age of nine, Rosecrans Baldwin had always dreamed of living in France. So when an offer presented itself to work at a Parisian ad agency, he couldn't turn it down—even though he had no experience in advertising, and even though he hardly spoke French.But the Paris that Rosecrans and his wife, Rachel, arrived in wasn't the romantic city he remembered, and over the next eighteen months, his dogged American optimism was put to the test: at work (where he wrote booklets on breastfeeding), at home (in the hub of a massive construction project), and at every confusing dinner party in between. A hilarious and refreshingly honest look at one of our most beloved cities, Paris, I Love Youbut You're Bringing Me Down is the story of a young man whose preconceptions are usurped by the oddities of a vigorous, nervy metropolis—which is just what he needs to fall in love with Paris a second time.
Paris, Paris
by Diane Johnson David Downie Alison Harris"Beautifully written and refreshingly original... makes us see [Paris] in a different light." -- San Francisco Chronicle Book Review Swapping his native San Francisco for the City of Light, travel writer David Downie arrived in Paris in 1986 on a one-way ticket, his head full of romantic notions. Curiosity and the legs of a cross-country runner propelled him daily from an unheated, seventh-floor walk-up garret near the Champs-Elysées to the old Montmartre haunts of the doomed painter Modigliani, the tombs of Père-Lachaise cemetery, the luxuriant alleys of the Luxembourg Gardens and the aristocratic Île Saint-Louis midstream in the Seine.Downie wound up living in the chic Marais district, married to the Paris-born American photographer Alison Harris, an equally incurable walker and chronicler. Ten books and a quarter-century later, he still spends several hours every day rambling through Paris, and writing about the city he loves. An irreverent, witty romp featuring thirty-one short prose sketches of people, places and daily life, Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light ranges from the glamorous to the least-known corners and characters of the world's favorite city. Photographs by Alison Harris. "I loved his collection of essays and anyone who's visited Paris in the past, or plans to visit in the future, will be equally charmed as well." --David Lebovitz, author of The Sweet Life in Paris "[A] quirky, personal, independent view of the city, its history and its people"--Mavis Gallant "Gives fresh poetic insight into the city... a voyage into 'the bends and recesses, the jagged edges, the secret interiors' [of Paris]."-- DeparturesFrom the Trade Paperback edition.