Francophiles will find much to love about TRAVELERS' TALES PARIS. "Imagine leaving this world without ever having seen Paris," the editors observe in the Introduction to this fascinating collection of Paris-inspired essays."For those who have been there, the thought is unthinkable.For those who haven't yet had the chance, the thought is a reminder that their lives will be impoverished until they go, for Paris is the center of the civilized universe, the capital of the Western world, a city of transcendent beauty, which belongs to everyone" (p. xix).Paris is the ultimate travel destination for Francophiles, lovers, flirters, thinkers, and cafe sitters, and for good reason.The thirty-six essays collected here reveal that Paris is as much a place as a state of mind.Paris means something different to everyone."There may be no city more uplifting to the human spirit.It is a place to explore the dimensions of yourself or those of someone you love--to walk and talk, to argue about life, to sit and contemplate the events of human history which have played themselves out here on these streets, on the banks of this river (p. xx).
Organized into five Parts;the "Essence of Paris," "Some Things to Do," "Going Your Own Way," "In the Shadows," and "The Last Word," TRAVELERS' TALES PARIS immerses its reader in the rich diversity of Parisian culture and the French mind, including, French existentialism, the twenty-volume French encyclopedia of Paris's 20 arondissements, Vie et Histoire, the Latin Quarter's literary and philosophical past, the Louvre, the Paris Catacombs ("Death's Kingdom"), the Turkish Baths, the Concierge tradition, and French strippers.
One caveat emptor, however:this collection of is an updated edition of PARIS:TRUE STORIES OF LIFE ON THE ROAD (Travelers' Tales Guides)(April 1, 1997).
G. Merritt
Product Description
Paris is one city that everyone should endeavor to know over the course of a lifetime, and not just in one or two visits. The City of Light has bestowed on millions the gift of the incandescent present, an image or experience into which all life is condensed and reflected upon for years to come. Travelers' Tales Paris captures the romance of the world's favorite city through stories that entertain, inform, and touch the heart. John Gregory Dunne reveals the manic pleasures of driving in the city's chaotic traffic. Joseph Diedrich and Katya Macklovich explore romantic encounters that could only happen here. Herbert Gold and David Applefield take aim at the nostalgia surrounding The Left Bank, one reveling in its literary past, the other urging the visitor to reach out to a new, modern Paris in the outlying area of Montreuil. Tim O'Reilly and Coleman Lollar evoke the appeal of unexpected tourist sites, and Marcel Laventurier recounts his harrowing escape from the Nazis on a train bound for occupied Paris in a tale you will never forget. "If Paris is the main dish, here is a rich and fascinating assortment of hors d'oeuvres." - Peter Mayle
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