Seven Ages of Paris

Rating:
Summary: beautifully written, reads like a novel
Review: A brief history of France as relates to Paris. The writing style is engaging, but not simplistic. Enjoyable. If you've been to Paris, this is a good way to add to your enjoyment and knowledge of that wonderful place. I especially enjoyed the epilogue that focused on Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

Rating:
Summary: Formidable!
Review: A most readable history of both Paris and France. Written in a style the non-academic lover of France can enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Formidable!
Review: A most readable history of both Paris and France. Written in a style the non-academic lover of France can enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: A wonderfully educational trip down the path of Paris history. Never tiresome, vividly written, and a solid reference book. Whether you are a history lover or someone planning to visit or live in Paris, it is a great addition to one's library. Bravo Mr. Horne!

Rating:
Summary: Massive History of a Vastely Interesting City
Review: Alistair Horne has taken on a large task in telling the tale of the city of Paris from the Middle Ages until the fall of de Gaulle. The job is divded into the Seven Ages of Paris to create more bite-size morsels for the reader but it is the character of the city and the characters within the city which make spanning the centuries so much fun. The author includes most of the bloody bits of the history (and with Paris, there was much of that) but also pauses to brings in elements of the arts and culture, particularly in the wonderful sections detailing the past hundred and fifty years. The architecture of the city is told in great detail and may be of interest to some readers, primarily those who have seen Paris. This book was a joy. The author touched on all the important periods and, though a favourite personality may be missing here or there, makes it an interesting read for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Ahhhh Paris!
Review: One of the most beautiful cities in the world has finally found a worthy biographer in A. J. Horne. Paris has always held a fascination for most, being a center of not only political and commercial interest, but also home to the art and culture known throughout the world. Horne's book describes the history of the city, with particular interest on the architectural changes, by highlighting seven different time periods, beginning with an introduction of the early beginnings of the city culminating in the late 1960's riots which shook Paris. Wonderfully written, with snippets of information hard to find elsewhere. For example, I often wondered by St. Genevieve was the patron saint of the city. Horne supplies that information that very early during the history of the city an attack was feared from the invaders of the west and as the city prepared to flee, young Genevieve had a vision that the attack would not take place and halted the evacuation. It's little pieces of information such as this, which made the book an exceptionally fun as well as educating read.

Special attention is also paid to other significant historical events, especially those after the 1600's. What really strikes the read is one thing: the number of uprisings (the French Revolution of 1789 was only one in a series) that had struck the city, most of them organized on a grass roots level. This also helps explains why the cobblestones of the streets have been cemented into place...these make very good missiles for those fed up with the weak administration of the city. That is another point that the author stresses...sanitation and city planning came very late to Paris, and this led to unimaginable squalor in various quarters of the city.

The reader is also introduced to some of the great figures of French history, particularly Henri IV (famous for his "Paris is worth a mass") and Emperor Napoleon III (who fled the country immediately following the defeat of the French in the Franco-Prussian war). Other notables include Haussman who reinvented the look of the city we now see.

The writing is crisp and flows wonderfully from chapter to chapter. Not at all a technical march of statistics, but a story of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Highly recommended for everyone who ever dreams of Paris.

Rating:
Summary: Multi-dimensional Paris
Review: Since this book is beautifully written in elegant, engaging prose, it might properly be considered a work of literature rather than of history or travel. But it offers the reader plenty of history: of politics and conflict, social change, art and architecture, glory and gloom. It starts in late antiquity and goes up to the departure of General De Gaulle. It also has a delightful epilogue about the Pere Lachaise Cemetery with snippets about some of the famous people, French and foreign, who currently abide there.

Rating:
Summary: An Execeptional Work
Review: Such a good book. I've been to Paris twice (and will go again despite the recent political problems) and it was wonderful to read the history of all the places I've seen. For example, I had no idea that the Les Halles area had been reserved as a market place since 1183. It's still a shopping area, too. It will make my visit next time more meaningful.

I recommend reading this before a trip to Paris. It's also good to read while you're there or when you get back.

I'm reading it now and marking passages to check out on my next vacation in that beautiful place.

Rating:
Summary: A superb history of Paris and France!!
Review: This is a superbly written history of Paris, as well as of France. It is at once well researched and scholarly, and highly readable and entertaining. While the history is focused on Paris, Horne skillfully weaves in the history of France as well. One thing that makes this such a good book is that Horne not only provides the reader with the political history, but weaves in descriptions of social issues, how the average Parisian lived, descriptions of the different social classes, information on the arts and culture, entertaining anecdotes, interesting portrayals of the important persons in the history of Paris and France, etc. In essence, he provides the reader with a full, comprehensive portrayal of Paris and France in a highly engaging writing style. My only very minor criticisms of the book are that a map of Paris should have been included, and not all of the very limited use of French was translated. Nevertheless, this is a must read for anyone interested in Paris and France. I would love to see Horne write a similar history of London.

Rating:
Summary: An indispensable book for seasoned and new travellers
Review: This is a wonderful book. Though written by a world class historian, it is anything but dry history. It captures the color of each age, its personalities, their architectural and artistic activities.

No matter how many times you have visited Paris this book provides insights on what makes Paris the beautiful place that it is.

Great read.