Abstract

It is one of the world’s most iconic cities, the center of romance, cuisine, and high culture, a place we are all implored to visit in spring and then forever hold in our hearts: Paris. But behind these familiar notions lies a bustling and deeply complex metropolis, one that offers visitors an unending array of surprises. This book takes readers and travelers to this other Paris, a city of love and danger alike, a city imbued with over 2,000 years of history, which Adam Roberts lovingly recounts alongside an expert tour of the city’s sights, sounds, and flavors.
           
Roberts tells the story of how a provincial backwater rose up to become one of the richest, most powerful, and most visited cities in Europe, a world leader in fashion, the arts, and gastronomy. He takes us back two millennia to when roaming Celtic tribes first set up camp on the banks of the Seine, and from there moves through turbulent centuries full of the fates and fortunes of kings, marked by invasions, revolutions, and magnificent buildings constructed one after the other. He explores the city’s renowned gothic architecture, the urban planning that has been revised throughout history, the mammoth museums that have been erected to preserve its artistic legacy, and the vibrant street culture that hosts markets, performers, and Paris’s own flâneurs every single day. Along the way, he points out countless hidden gems travelers rarely make it to: from a vintage candy shop to a museum of romantic life, from a hidden garden inside a hospital to a converted hair salon that hosts—of all things—table tennis tournaments. And of course he shows readers where to eat, catch a show, and go for gorgeous sunset strolls.
           
Offering a comprehensive but easily digestible overview, Paris is the perfect book for anyone planning a visit to the city or anyone who simply loves it from afar.
 
“The Paris within Roberts’ Paris combines the intellect with the emotional and does so in a style that is both engaging and alluring. The rich history that belongs to the city—stone by stone, bridge by bridge, ruler by ruler, era by era—comes alive within these pages, giving vast meaning to each step and to each breath taken by today’s visitor. To complete this important guide, Roberts includes colorful essays and pleasing recommendations. In the end, one is left with an historical and a present moveable feast.” — Robert Wheeler, author of Hemingway’s Paris: A Writer’s City In Words And Images
“Roberts paints the living city and its roots in an intimate, nuanced way offering a narrative full of historical and twenty-first-century detail. As a devoted follower of his blog “Invisible Paris,” I’m thrilled that we can benefit from his broad knowledge and unique observations with this excellent book. Not only highly recommended, this book is also a treat to share.” — Cara Black, author of the Aimée Leduc series
Adam Roberts is a freelance writer and editor of the Invisible Paris blog. His work as appeared in the Guardian, CNN, and a variety of French magazines.