ART & ARCHITECTURE PARIS

Martina Padberg

found it most informative and readable

from .01 plus shipping on amazon.com

OH Vttraveler, <i>Book of Salt</i> was *amazing*! I guess I wasn't thinking of it in the OP's context, but wow an incredible first novel by Monique Truong. 1920's Paris from the perspective of Gertrude Stein's fictitious cook!

Someone has already mentioned it above but I re-read 'Is Paris Burning?' recently after having read it over 30 years ago. Still an interesting page turner... even though you know how it turns out in the end.

You might find "Napoleon III and his Carnival Empire" by John Bierman interesting. Then go visit the Napoleon III apartments in the Louvre.

gwan,

I've read both the Graham Robb books and liked them very much . "Parisians" was a bit easier to read as each chapter is stand-alone. Loved how you see different places or parts of Paris through the eyes of historic figures. I found some of the 20th and 21st century chapters the most interesting, particularly the student riots of '68.

Will be interested in your opinion.

"Parisians" sounds interesting! I've order 4 books, so if I get those done I'll go for a second round!

I always consult Longitude books. You can search by country, they give you both fiction and non-fiction choices relevant to the country you are searching.

http://www.longitudebooks.com/

Another vote for Graham Robb's "Parisians", though it's an unpredictable collection of individuals to choose, especially for the more modern period.

A fairly hefty (but very readable) tome on the social history of Paris is Andre Hussey's "Secret Life of Paris"; and a (short) collection of off-beat reflections, which may inspire some walks, is Edmund White's "The Flaneur".

And I <i>adored</i> Sarah Bakewell on Montaigne (do read her book anyway). Most of his professional life and writing was done in the south west, but there is a statue to him behind the Cluny Museum, with one shiny polished toecap where students on their way into exams have traditionally rubbed it for luck:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patricklondon/2760234626/

Found this thread yesterday and am so grateful for all the book ideas.
cigalechanta, I got the sample of Secret Life of the Seine on my kindle and am totally hooked. I absolutely love it! So, "thank you"!

A couple I have read lately and enjoyed:

"The Greater Journey" David McCullough
"Eiffel's Tower" Jill Jonnes
"The Most Beautiful Walk in the World" John Baxter

Eric Hazan's <i>The Invention of Paris; A History in Footsteps</i>

<i>Paris; Memories of Times Past</i> - Solange Hando and others, with 75 paintings by Mortimer Menpes

Martina Padberg <i>Art and Architecture Paris</i>

Jane Paech <i>A Family in Paris</i>

<i>Paris; A Guide to the City's Creative Heart</i>, by Janelle McCulloch

Ian Thompson's <i>The Sun King's Garden; Louis XIV, Andre Le Notre and the Creation of the Gardens of Versailles</i>

The original post was three years ago. Who knows the honeymooners might be divorced by now.

I just read The perfume collector by Kathleen Tessaro and loved it. It is set during the occupation of Paris and was very interesting.
Bonjour 40 a Paris Travel log/ Karen Chase is very entertaining
Paris my sweet by Amy Thomas is a guide to all things yummy to eat
Paris was ours by Penelope Rowlands/32 writers reflect on Paris
I am going through my kindle. Many more and Movable feast and Paris wife are both great but my favorite is
Waiting for Gertrude/ Bill Richardson

Oh wow, just noticed how old this thread was but I got some great leads on Paris reading so thank you!

This is why I love this forum! Will be spending a week in Paris this fall, and am loading the Kindle now!

How Paris became Paris

Confession of Catherine de Medici by CW Gortner.

Almost French (memoir)
Murder in Pere Lachaise (I found it left in our inn after we had actually visited Pere Lachaise!)

For Hemingway fans, "The Paris Wife". Also recommend,

"Wine and War"
"The Widow Cliquot"
"Painted Dancer" (fictionalization of Degas' model)

They found someone murdered in Pere Lachaise last week leslieq.

Why is Jane Paech A Family in Paris so expensive?