Secrets of Paris

by Michael Kerrigan

Known adoringly as the City of Light, Paris attracts visitors from all over the world. They come to marvel at her beauty, and it is this that is captured in the pages of this beautifully photographed volume. Covering all the most important sights and arrondissements, The Secrets of Paris documents the infinitely varied face of this remarkable metropolis – from the grand Hausmann-era Champs-Elysées and Arc de Triomphe, to the delightful staircases of Montmartre, from the Gothic splendor of Notre Dame to the ultra-modern Grande Arche de la Défense.

The Secrets of Paris takes you on an amazing journey through the rich history and architectural heritage of the city. Stunning photographs are brought to life by Michael Kerrigan’s insights into Paris’s historic past and contemporary life. The Roman amphitheatre of ancient Lutetia, the Medieval Latin Quarter and the Sorbonne, the exquisite Beaux-Arts Musée d’Orsay and the futuristic Centre Georges Pompidou are all here. Also evoked is the atmosphere of Paris, from intimate bars and bistros – once the backdrop to artists such as Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and Pablo Picasso – to street markets and the food shops of Place de la Madeleine, to wide boulevards filled with racing traffic and lined with dazzling Belle-Époque cafés. Quiet, hidden gems are also revealed. The Village Saint-Paul or the Square Georges-Cain, both in the Marais, or the Cour Damoye in the Bastille, are tranquil, picturesque, almost forgotten havens in the heart of the sprawling city and to visit them can feel like stepping back in time. The Secrets of Paris is a stunningly diverse pictorial guide to this captivating city.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, France, Photography, Reference, Art

191 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Michael Kerrigan is a seasoned freelance writer and editor with over thirty years of experience across a wide spectrum of publishing work, from advertising and catalogue copy to book blurbs and specialist nonfiction. A prolific author, he has written around sixty full-length books on subjects ranging from ancient warfare and Slavic myth to modern architecture and the science of consciousness, all aimed at a general readership. He contributed a weekly Books in Brief column to The Scotsman for two decades and has reviewed extensively for the Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, and Financial Times.

Reviews

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful guide to EVERYTHING you could possibly want to see in Paris. I loved that it focused on the historical items, along with the information behind them. I will definitely keep this book and take it with me when I go to Paris (whenever that may be!).

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice for what it was. A little picture book with stories of best places in Paris. None of which are “secret” by the way. Photos very nice. Wish there were more than one of most locations and there should have been an overall map to get the locations in context.

[Emily Finke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has really beautiful photos of Paris with just enough information to peak your interest, but not so much that it’ll overwhelm you.

[Mary Jeneverre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessalyn

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight to spend an afternoon paging through these glorious pictures of places that mean so much to me -- and finding a few I'd totally missed ... Next time I am there I will hurry to the Musée Nissim de Camondo, and the Hotel Soubise, the Je t'aime Wall, and les Invalides where, unbelievably, I've never been, to pay homage to Napoleon-- I, who love David's painting so much! The short texts give the essence of each place, and perfectly set off the photos. It's like a stroll through the loveliest buildings and parks in the city. A marvel of a dream book of a real marvel-- Paris.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book (with descriptions) of many of the sights of Paris...some I've already seen and some I now want to see. The pictures weren't great, but that's what you get on the bargain table at Barnes and Noble. I didn't realize there were so many museums...

[Jocelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me want to pack my bags and head off to Europe!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful. I love the photos in it and the descriptions. Some of these places were unknown to me which helps me in planning my trip to France.