Parisiennes: A Celebration of French Women

by Carole Bouquet, Marie Darrieussecq, Madeleine Chapsal

Divided by theme into chapters, this light-hearted and nostalgic romp through 20th-century Paris creates a beautiful history of the world’s most romantic city and its exceptional women. This collection of one hundred and thirty duotone photographs captures the essence of the Parisian femme fatale. All of the great French photographers from the late 1930s through the 1960s are featured, including Robert Doisneau, Brassaï, Willy Ronis, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Edouard Boubat, Jean-Philippe Charbonnier, Sabine Weiss, and many more. The photographs reveal Parisian women and all of their glorious facets: from the love-struck waif strolling along the banks of the Seine to the belles of the neighborhood balls flushed from their raucous dance moves, from no-nonsense career girls to flirty neighbors. Chanel-clad locals and runway models alike showcase the glamour of the fashion and haute-couture world with inimitable style. One chapter pays homage to the courageous women who battled for justice in World War II, the Resistance, the Liberation, and the revolts of May 1968, including role models such as philosopher and writer Simone de Beauvoir and journalist and playwright Marguerite Dumas. The Parisiennes featured here go to work, ride bikes, pose seductively, smile coyly, and are all devastatingly irresistible.

Genres: Nonfiction, France, Photography

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 2007

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting visual look at French femininity through the ages, but it seemed about halfway stuck between actual reality and glamorous reality. And the books themed subdivisions (Motherhood, Appetite, Elegance, etc.) seemed rather arbitrary.

One point, which is neither for nor against the book itself, was how freakin' MAD reading of the history of French women made me. French women are seen (at least in my head, and in the media) as beautiful creatures of passion and, more importantly, incredibly independent. And yet, looking at their history, I can't believe the poor French record of womens' rights. French women only got the right to vote in 1944. Yeah...1944. As the book points out, French women got the right to vote 14 years AFTER Turkish women got the right to vote, and Turkey is not exactly known as a progression country for women.

And contraception? Contraceptive advertising not allowed in France until 1991. Less than twenty years ago.

But what really got my ire was the laws on abortion. In 1942 a law was passed that made performing an abortion a crime against the state, punishable by death. Yes, death. A woman was convicted of performing abortions and was guillotined. Yep, they lopped off her head for performing an abortion.

So, what I hoped would be a charming and beautiful look at French women did more to piss me off against the French government. Where do I sign up to burn my French bra?

[Morla]

BEAUTIFUL!

[Jennifer Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only beautifully illustrated, also contains some interesting bits of information. A book I really want to own.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun to look at, a nice collection of all kinds of photos of all kinds of ladies! and some of the darker side of life there as well... equal parts joyous and unsettling.