Around and About Paris, Volume 1: From the Dawn of Time to the Eiffel Tower

by Thirza Vallois

Around and About Paris is the perfect companion to the city, written by someone who has known Paris inside-out for over 30 years.

Genres: Travel, France, Nonfiction, History

317 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[DocNora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive history of Paris, well worth a read, ideally before a visit to this most fascinating of cities. Written in beautiful, evocative prose it makes one feel and see the place it is describing so well. It would be lovely to come out with another hardcover illustrated edition which would be heavenly!

[Jacqueline M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have owned an apartment in the 7th arrondissement for 25 years, and I learned so many new and fascinating details of not only my neighborhood but also the other neighborhoods covered in this little gem of a travel guide. I highly recommend.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anticipating my next trip to Paris, I was excited to find a book specifically covering my favorite sections of the City. We walk Paris. You have to if you desire to even begin to know her at all. This book was written for those who do just that--walk, explore, and want more than a surface, tourist's view. I took notes so I didn't have to carry the whole book with me when I return next summer--but later decided I want it close at hand, so it's now on my packing list. I learned many interesting facts about places I've visited and places I now want to locate. I am once again looking forward to exploring more deeply these beloved seven Arrondissements. If you don't plan to go to Paris, you may not appreciate the book to the fullest; but, if you have already gone, this book will transport you quickly back to that time. I could easily follow some walks in my mind's eye, seeing from memory what was being described while gaining a greater appreciation. Excellent book!

[Jeff Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every city of consequence should have a Thirza Vallois to write about it. This is one of my favorite types of travel books: historical, detail-minded, and advocacy-prone. A day or two or more walking the streets of Paris with this in hand is really what knowledgeable exploring is all about. 'Things' too little to see or too commonplace to take note of, that thousands of people walk past daily and pay no attention to, these are just as much a part of the grand city as the tourist attractions. Places lost had a life and hopefully still have a story to tell, if Vallois has anything to say about it. This book is dedicated to those things and places, to those long-gone people and their minor-key history. Aimless wandering is fine, but wandering with knowledge (this book) in hand is even more so.

[Karen Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book for people who are totally in love with every inch of Paris: in other words, people like me! Thirza Vallois seems to know every tiny bit of history, every building, alley and street and who did what on them. She almost counts the bricks. She's definitely not for everyone, but what fun I'm having!

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Paris, thus I love books about Paris. This was just way too dense. I would have liked to have read something that either didn't give SO many details on the history of each arrondisement, or interspersed some modern-day information with the history. As it stands, I couldn't get through even one chapter. :(

[Mark B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ultimate in minutiae. For the Paris-obsessed and detail-manic. Every street, every niche, every random little detail explained so finitely that you'll either be overjoyed at having discovered this book, or repulsed that it's WAY too much information! 3 volumes!!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent socio-economic, diverse look at parisian history. Awesome. Sassy author.