How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City Author: Joan DeJean | Language: English | ISBN:
1608195910 | Format: PDF
How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City Description
From Booklist
Within a century after the medieval period, Paris had moved beyond the old model of a scattering of village dwellings behind fortified walls to become a well-planned urban space of public parks, boulevards, street grids, street lighting, public transportation, and modern bridges. As early as the 1600s, Henry IV and his successors Louis XIII and Louis XIV set in motion the design for a city that would incorporate the arts, entertainment, commerce, and government in the capital city, facilitating the whole life of Paris citizens. With public spaces that encouraged social interchange, with both the high-born and the low-born circulating together, picking up on gossip, new ideas, and fashion trends, Paris became one of Europe’s first great walking cities. French literary and cultural scholar DeJean details the planning behind the Pont Neuf, the Louvre, and other iconic sights as she offers a historical perspective on the forces that created Paris and led the way to a new conception of urban living. Maps and drawings add to the appeal of this engaging history of the growth of Paris into a modern city. --Vanessa Bush
Review
"Illuminating . . . DeJean obviously knows and loves Paris, and she provides coherent history that effectively explains the evolution of a city built by a few prescient men." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Witty and engaging . . . With panache and examples from primary sources, guidebooks, maps, and paintings, she illustrates how Paris changed people's conception of a city's potential." - Publishers Weekly (Top 10 Travel Books This Spring)
"DeJean's depth and scope of research are impressive . . . Like its subject, DeJean's biography of Paris emanates charm and wit. What makes [her] analysis so intriguing is her capacity to weave strands of history together. With such rich context, How Paris Became Paris is more than a history: It's the best kind of travel guidebook." - BookPage
See all Editorial Reviews
- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; First Edition edition (March 4, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1608195910
- ISBN-13: 978-1608195916
- Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City Preview
Link
Please Wait...