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Metropolitain: An Ode to the Paris Metro
Andrew Martin has been described as 'the laureate of railways', having written many books with railway themes. But Andrew has always been obsessed with the Paris Metro, hence An Ode to the Paris M e tro, the first English history of the Metro for the general reader.
Metropolitain is as stylish as the Metro itself and laced with cultural references. Andrew explains why Last Tango in Paris is a great Metro film, and what the Metro chase scene in the classic thriller , Le Samourai , says about Parisian culture. He describes how he came to appreciate the beauty of Guimard's sinuous green Metro entrances when he bought a lily of the valley and observed it flowering on his desk. We meet Andrew's half-English, half-French friend, Julian, who runs a society dedicated to Metro history. He tells Andrew, 'A Metro station is like the wine cellar of chateau, which is a very nice thing to be reminded of.'
The book takes the reader on a constant tour of Paris, both underground and over. But Paris, and the Metro, is changing, undergoing a huge expansion. This, and the imminence of the Paris Olympics, make this a timely title.
Metropolitain is as stylish as the Metro itself and laced with cultural references. Andrew explains why Last Tango in Paris is a great Metro film, and what the Metro chase scene in the classic thriller , Le Samourai , says about Parisian culture. He describes how he came to appreciate the beauty of Guimard's sinuous green Metro entrances when he bought a lily of the valley and observed it flowering on his desk. We meet Andrew's half-English, half-French friend, Julian, who runs a society dedicated to Metro history. He tells Andrew, 'A Metro station is like the wine cellar of chateau, which is a very nice thing to be reminded of.'
The book takes the reader on a constant tour of Paris, both underground and over. But Paris, and the Metro, is changing, undergoing a huge expansion. This, and the imminence of the Paris Olympics, make this a timely title.
256 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2024
19 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Martin
190 books106 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Andrew Martin (born 6 July 1962) is an English novelist and journalist.
Martin was brought up in Yorkshire, studied at the University of Oxford and qualified as a barrister. He has since worked as a freelance journalist for a number of publications while writing novels, starting with Bilton, a comic novel about journalists, and The Bobby Dazzlers, a comic novel set in the North of England, for which he was named Spectator Young Writer of the Year. His series of detective novels about Jim Stringer, a railwayman reassigned to the North Eastern Railway Police in Edwardian England, includes The Necropolis Railway, The Blackpool Highflyer, The Lost Luggage Porter, Murder at Deviation Junction and Death on a Branch Line. He has also written the non-fiction book; How to Get Things Really Flat: A Man's Guide to Ironing, Dusting and Other Household Arts.
Andrew Martin (born 6 July 1962) is an English novelist and journalist.
Martin was brought up in Yorkshire, studied at the University of Oxford and qualified as a barrister. He has since worked as a freelance journalist for a number of publications while writing novels, starting with Bilton, a comic novel about journalists, and The Bobby Dazzlers, a comic novel set in the North of England, for which he was named Spectator Young Writer of the Year. His series of detective novels about Jim Stringer, a railwayman reassigned to the North Eastern Railway Police in Edwardian England, includes The Necropolis Railway, The Blackpool Highflyer, The Lost Luggage Porter, Murder at Deviation Junction and Death on a Branch Line. He has also written the non-fiction book; How to Get Things Really Flat: A Man's Guide to Ironing, Dusting and Other Household Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 11, 2025
This is a delightful book full of details relating to the Parisian Metro.
In the Maigret books, the famous detective rarely takes the Metro, in fact he doesn't like it probably because he's not allowed to smoke his pipe on the train, whereas he can smoke at the back of a bus.
There's a brief chronology of the Metro and very detailed descriptions of each of the lines. For example, Line 14 trains average 40 kilometres per hour, as against 25 kph on all the other lines. This could be because the average distance between stops on Line 14 is 2 kilometres, compared to 500 metres on all the other lines.
In the Maigret books, the famous detective rarely takes the Metro, in fact he doesn't like it probably because he's not allowed to smoke his pipe on the train, whereas he can smoke at the back of a bus.
There's a brief chronology of the Metro and very detailed descriptions of each of the lines. For example, Line 14 trains average 40 kilometres per hour, as against 25 kph on all the other lines. This could be because the average distance between stops on Line 14 is 2 kilometres, compared to 500 metres on all the other lines.
July 31, 2024
Well written, but this should’ve been a coffee table book because IT NEEDS PICTURES
December 20, 2023
Franchement pas impressionnée …
As a French person who’s seen what the metro is really like in all its strikes and Frenchness… this hyper reality that tourists so often take Paris for is just not the real representation.
Now granted I appreciated the fact that there was so much research made for this but honestly, the picture painted is not a true one. This fairytale version of a “moyen de transport” and RER leaves a lot to be discussed. You can tell this was written by a tourist.
As a French person who’s seen what the metro is really like in all its strikes and Frenchness… this hyper reality that tourists so often take Paris for is just not the real representation.
Now granted I appreciated the fact that there was so much research made for this but honestly, the picture painted is not a true one. This fairytale version of a “moyen de transport” and RER leaves a lot to be discussed. You can tell this was written by a tourist.
August 13, 2024
This is a fond, charming, often bemusing amble through the metro. I’ve picked up some snippets of information I’ll hopefully retain; a bunch more of this has gone over my head, and I really think this would have benefited from some pictures or diagrams because there’s only so many times I can have station vaulting or specific ceramic work described before I’m just mentally noting, “okay, yet another station has… tiles”. But Martin’s love of his subject is clear and endearing and that helps.
January 8, 2026
It was the last chapter that did it for me. Brought everything together so beautifully, and made me yearn for Paris. It also made me curse the ex who wanted to do a Eurostar trip but refused to take me to Paris. Don't get me wrong, I loved Bruges; but I was longing for Paris the whole time.
April 7, 2025
The author obviously has a deep affection for Paris and its metro. The book is well written. However, the book could really do with some photographs of the system. There is not even a map of the metro which, as the author describes each line, is, in my view, a major ommission.
August 27, 2023
I'm a big fan of Andrew Martin and have read most of his non-fiction on railways. I love reading about Paris too so was excited about this book. However, it didn't really work for me. It's fine - there are some interesting bits, it covers everything you'd want in a book this size (it's fairly short). But it read mostly like a big info dump. What I generally love about Martin's books is he goes on a specific train journey and weaves the history of that journey/area/railway in with his experience of the journey. There's very little of that in here - and I do get why, as metro journeys are pretty short.
I also think this might work for you better if you're really familiar with the Metro - I've only been to Paris once and went on the Metro several times during that visit. He talks a lot about the stops/place names, etc. I think it would work well as a book you refer to while you're in Paris and travelling. I skipped most of the sections on the individual lines as it wasn't that interesting to someone not familiar with it. The best bits were him talking about memorable journeys/memories of travelling.
I really felt the book would have been better with a map of the Metro, for a start, and a photo section - most railway history books have a good photo section in the middle to give some context, and I do find it bizarre that there's no map at all - it gets very confusing reading at times without anything to refer to unless you're very familiar with the geography.
I also think this might work for you better if you're really familiar with the Metro - I've only been to Paris once and went on the Metro several times during that visit. He talks a lot about the stops/place names, etc. I think it would work well as a book you refer to while you're in Paris and travelling. I skipped most of the sections on the individual lines as it wasn't that interesting to someone not familiar with it. The best bits were him talking about memorable journeys/memories of travelling.
I really felt the book would have been better with a map of the Metro, for a start, and a photo section - most railway history books have a good photo section in the middle to give some context, and I do find it bizarre that there's no map at all - it gets very confusing reading at times without anything to refer to unless you're very familiar with the geography.
January 24, 2025
3.5☆
While Andrew Martin's writing is vivid, this book really suffered from not having a single illustration in it. I appreciate that it makes it more accessible in terms of printing and pricing but there are one too many "there is a famous photo" in there. It is, after all, a book about design (which is why I picked up) and the lack of illustrations really does a disservice to Martin's work and his knowledge of the system.
A side note but an interesting point - Martin mentions that he finds the Paris Metro more confusing to navigate than the London Tube as signs use the last station as direction, as opposed to latter's cardinal directions. It mostly caught my eye because I had the exact opposite experience and I think this is a generational divide. When Martin first started using either system, he would have relied on true map reading, which means that it would indeed be quicker to read the Tube map. I, however, relied on apps - which state the last station as the direction of travel for both systems. What a small thing that has vastly affected our initial impressions.
While Andrew Martin's writing is vivid, this book really suffered from not having a single illustration in it. I appreciate that it makes it more accessible in terms of printing and pricing but there are one too many "there is a famous photo" in there. It is, after all, a book about design (which is why I picked up) and the lack of illustrations really does a disservice to Martin's work and his knowledge of the system.
A side note but an interesting point - Martin mentions that he finds the Paris Metro more confusing to navigate than the London Tube as signs use the last station as direction, as opposed to latter's cardinal directions. It mostly caught my eye because I had the exact opposite experience and I think this is a generational divide. When Martin first started using either system, he would have relied on true map reading, which means that it would indeed be quicker to read the Tube map. I, however, relied on apps - which state the last station as the direction of travel for both systems. What a small thing that has vastly affected our initial impressions.
July 31, 2023
Metropolitain by Andrew Martin
The book brings to you to the metro in Paris through words. For a commute that Parisian uses everyday, who will pay attention to the history and story behind? Andrew Martin.
The book explains the metro from the station names, the entrances, how it influenced by the war and even station colours. Metropolitain is a "Metropedia" if you ask me. The research and effort by Andrew was huge and here is the fabulous result!
Metropolitain also shows the evolution of the metro. It's a fun and knowledgable read!
The book brings to you to the metro in Paris through words. For a commute that Parisian uses everyday, who will pay attention to the history and story behind? Andrew Martin.
The book explains the metro from the station names, the entrances, how it influenced by the war and even station colours. Metropolitain is a "Metropedia" if you ask me. The research and effort by Andrew was huge and here is the fabulous result!
Metropolitain also shows the evolution of the metro. It's a fun and knowledgable read!
June 9, 2025
Runs on slightly but a really sweet book. The metro is ‘the most poetical form of Parisian transport’ and Martin’s writing style does a great job of reflecting that. His language is gorgeous, his descriptions vivid and his passion palpable. It reminds me that a journey on public transport is a journey through history, romanticising the trivial in such a pleasant way. The book thrives not when Martin flexes the extensive research he’s clearly put in, but rather when it strays into the empirical and anecdotal, truly becoming the ode its title promises.
August 31, 2023
The Metropolitain is the mass transit system of Paris and in this book Martin explores it's history and geography. The book is peppered with references to culture, especially film, and very cleverly linked. Each line is explored alongside various stations, there are lots of little anecdotes including many personal ones. Reading the book made me long to go back to Paris and this is a book written by someone who does love the city and its railways.
December 30, 2025
This was great fun, I find a lot of non fiction boring because it often comes with an obsession with getting all the information and all the facts which is sometimes necessary but sometimes it’s okay to just be enchanted by something and want to share it and this guy does a great job of that. I love that he’s bold enough to end a passage with “but I don’t know much about that so I’m not going to pretend”, or he’ll defer to someone else who does, or he’ll go on a tangent. Very charming
January 5, 2025
The subtitle summarizes this well. Martin is an English author who loves the Paris Metro and writes a love letter to it. His love for his topic is sincere and carries the book (and made me want to go to Paris and ride some of the stranger quirks in the system), though I'm not sure the book had quite enough content.
August 9, 2023
It's a book about the Paris metrò but it's also a book about the stories and history that is a relevant part in the names and the places.
Informative, entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Informative, entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 20, 2024
I read around 90% of this on the Paris metro (mostly on the same lines though...) and it was really cool to watch some of the pages turning into reality.
There is something really nice about reading an outsider's view of one's own city :)
So much to explore!
There is something really nice about reading an outsider's view of one's own city :)
So much to explore!
January 6, 2025
An interesting tour of the stations on the Paris underground. Some of it might be a bit too detailed for other than the true railway geek, but the personal anecdotes and quirky little historical episodes make up for it. It would be good to read it before or while visiting Paris.
May 2, 2025
An interesting and enjoyable read about Paris's Metro rail system. Martin looks at its history and makes comparisons between it and other underground railways such as London's tube.
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in railway history.
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in railway history.
March 9, 2024
Entertaining and informative. My Kindle version didn't have a map of the network, so downloading one separately made it easier to follow the narrative.
August 13, 2024
Fun read on Paris metro by a very British Brit. Interesting comparison between the tube and metro Second half of the book got a little lost of me/ dragged
March 3, 2025
Really interesting book, some brilliant stories about the Metro and its origins
March 24, 2025
Nice evocative prose that would’ve been much more insightful with pictures
March 12, 2024
This book is subtitled, ‘An Ode to the Paris Metro’, which could not be a more fitting caption for this book.
The blurb tells the reader that Andrew Martin has been described as the ‘laureate of railways.’ Apparently, he has written several books about railways, all of which have escaped my notice until now.
Published in 2023, I first noticed this book because of an article in a newspaper. It sounded interesting. So the book came with me to France when I last visited and was read as I overlooked the Loire. A Paris view would have been perfect, but unfortunately, the city was not on my list of destinations for that trip.
The book looks at the history, creation and development of the Metro. I was fascinated to discover the origins of the iconic Metro Station entrances, with their green railings and stylised flower motifs that I have always thought of as beautifully French. It was also a surprise to find that the twin lights of the entrances have been compared to demonic ‘dragons’ eyes’ — definitely not how I’ve ever thought of that ironwork lighting!
The book is not only a detailed history but also an appreciation of the art, style, and cultural importance of this form of transport in one of my favourite cities. The narrative flows easily across the pages, and the technical input is in clear, uncomplicated language. Naturally, as I was reading the book, I had my map of the city beside me and often stopped to sort through my photographs to remind myself of what I might find at ground level at many of the stations mentioned.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The wit, clear descriptions, and literary links made it a complete story — a story told with the skill and imagery of a natural poet.
The blurb tells the reader that Andrew Martin has been described as the ‘laureate of railways.’ Apparently, he has written several books about railways, all of which have escaped my notice until now.
Published in 2023, I first noticed this book because of an article in a newspaper. It sounded interesting. So the book came with me to France when I last visited and was read as I overlooked the Loire. A Paris view would have been perfect, but unfortunately, the city was not on my list of destinations for that trip.
The book looks at the history, creation and development of the Metro. I was fascinated to discover the origins of the iconic Metro Station entrances, with their green railings and stylised flower motifs that I have always thought of as beautifully French. It was also a surprise to find that the twin lights of the entrances have been compared to demonic ‘dragons’ eyes’ — definitely not how I’ve ever thought of that ironwork lighting!
The book is not only a detailed history but also an appreciation of the art, style, and cultural importance of this form of transport in one of my favourite cities. The narrative flows easily across the pages, and the technical input is in clear, uncomplicated language. Naturally, as I was reading the book, I had my map of the city beside me and often stopped to sort through my photographs to remind myself of what I might find at ground level at many of the stations mentioned.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The wit, clear descriptions, and literary links made it a complete story — a story told with the skill and imagery of a natural poet.
March 27, 2024
It's not big and it's not clever, but I like it.
Given the number of references to other books on the subject, you wonder how much is even original, but it doesn't matter. Even with the shocking omission of ANY illustration (come on, surely at least a map here and there??), it still gets 5 stars!
Given the number of references to other books on the subject, you wonder how much is even original, but it doesn't matter. Even with the shocking omission of ANY illustration (come on, surely at least a map here and there??), it still gets 5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews