Paris: With Pen and Pencil Its People and Literature, Its Life and Business

by David Vandewater Golden Bartlett

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2007

About the author

Bartlett, 1828-1912, was Washington correspondent of the New-York independent and Evening post.

Also known as:
David W. Bartlett
D.W. Bartlett
David Van de Water Bartlett
David VanWatrous Golden Bartlett

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mid-19th century travel book by an American who spent some time in Paris. The writing is pretty good and he’s very opinionated, often without a lot of knowledge, just opinions. Actually, that is what I find entertaining in vintage travel books. Buildings that you can see today for yourself aren’t exactly enhanced by his descriptions. What a fairly ordinary man thought of French people, customs, food and horrors—nudity in art is very entertaining.

The book is divided into topics such as contemporary politics (he’s not a fan of Emperor Napoleon III), restaurants (doesn’t care much for French food—much prefers food he’s eaten in England), Lafayette’s tomb (high on his list of must sees and does some hero worship here), churches (ok on the outside) art—my favorite section. He finds the Louvre grand but doesn’t describe individual pieces much. He goes bonkers with opinions on morality or lack there of. “Are such pictures as can be found in the French gallery, pictures which express sensuality and debauchery, productive of good?” He hopes American ladies never get accustomed to such sights that French ladies seem to take in stride. Public gardens are beautiful but again those licentious statues!

He’s so often off but what you do learn is something about American Victorian era attitude. If you have patience you can let the author lead you on. Space is devoted to living and dead authors and as you might guess his opinions aren’t very enlightening. He likes French people but is amazed at their party-going, fashion forward and generally frivolous ways. How could they produce so many great scientists, philosophers, writers and statesmen? What Bartlett reveals about himself is very interesting. As a guide book you’d be better off with Fodor’s.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy reading the innocent (but often insightful) and condemning observations of an American in the City of Lights, this is a worthwhile book. To Bartlett's credit, he does praise the French on occasion where he finds some true merit. Skip his historical and literary portraits and concentrate on his musing on French morality, religion, manners, etc.

[Jason Reeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great tour of Paris, with some in-depth history of French notables that I was not familiar with. This was written in the mid 1800's. So this was a perspective of the city that is unusual for today's reader. Highly recommend this one.