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Paris, City of Dreams: Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris
Acclaimed historian Mary McAuliffe vividly recaptures the Paris of Napoleon III, Claude Monet, and Victor Hugo as Georges Haussmann tore down and rebuilt Paris into the beautiful City of Light we know today.
Paris, City of Dreams traces the transformation of the City of Light during Napoleon III's Second Empire into the beloved city of today. Together, Napoleon III and his right-hand man, Georges Haussmann, completely rebuilt Paris in less than two decades--a breathtaking achievement made possible not only by the emperor's vision and Haussmann's determination but by the regime's unrelenting authoritarianism, augmented by the booming economy that Napoleon fostered.
Yet a number of Parisians refused to comply with the restrictions that censorship and entrenched institutional taste imposed. Mary McAuliffe follows the lives of artists such as Edouard Manet, Berthe Morisot, and Claude Monet, as well as writers such as Emile Zola, Gustave Flaubert, and the poet Charles Baudelaire, while from exile, Victor Hugo continued to fire literary broadsides at the emperor he detested.
McAuliffe brings to life a pivotal era encompassing not only the physical restructuring of Paris but also the innovative forms of banking and money-lending that financed industrialization as well as the city's transformation. This in turn created new wealth and lavish excess, even while producing extreme poverty. More deeply, change was occurring in the way people looked at and understood the world around them, given the new ease of transportation and communication, the popularization of photography, and the emergence of what would soon be known as Impressionism in art and Naturalism and Realism in literature--artistic yearnings that would flower in the Belle Epoque.
Napoleon III, whose reign abruptly ended after he led France into a devastating war against Germany, has been forgotten. But the Paris that he created has endured, brought to vivid life through McAuliffe's rich illustrations and evocative narrative.
Paris, City of Dreams traces the transformation of the City of Light during Napoleon III's Second Empire into the beloved city of today. Together, Napoleon III and his right-hand man, Georges Haussmann, completely rebuilt Paris in less than two decades--a breathtaking achievement made possible not only by the emperor's vision and Haussmann's determination but by the regime's unrelenting authoritarianism, augmented by the booming economy that Napoleon fostered.
Yet a number of Parisians refused to comply with the restrictions that censorship and entrenched institutional taste imposed. Mary McAuliffe follows the lives of artists such as Edouard Manet, Berthe Morisot, and Claude Monet, as well as writers such as Emile Zola, Gustave Flaubert, and the poet Charles Baudelaire, while from exile, Victor Hugo continued to fire literary broadsides at the emperor he detested.
McAuliffe brings to life a pivotal era encompassing not only the physical restructuring of Paris but also the innovative forms of banking and money-lending that financed industrialization as well as the city's transformation. This in turn created new wealth and lavish excess, even while producing extreme poverty. More deeply, change was occurring in the way people looked at and understood the world around them, given the new ease of transportation and communication, the popularization of photography, and the emergence of what would soon be known as Impressionism in art and Naturalism and Realism in literature--artistic yearnings that would flower in the Belle Epoque.
Napoleon III, whose reign abruptly ended after he led France into a devastating war against Germany, has been forgotten. But the Paris that he created has endured, brought to vivid life through McAuliffe's rich illustrations and evocative narrative.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2020
32 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Mary McAuliffe
22 books81 followersMary McAuliffe holds a PhD in history from the University of Maryland, has taught at several universities, and lectured at the Smithsonian Institution. She has traveled extensively in France, and for many years she was a regular contributor to Paris Notes. Her books include Dawn of the Belle Epoque, Twilight of the Belle Epoque, When Paris Sizzled, Paris on the Brink, Clash of Crowns, and Paris Discovered. She lives in New York City with her husband.
Dawn of the Belle Epoque
Twilight of the Belle Epoque
When Paris Sizzled
Paris on the Brink
Clash of Crowns
Paris Discovered
Dawn of the Belle Epoque
Twilight of the Belle Epoque
When Paris Sizzled
Paris on the Brink
Clash of Crowns
Paris Discovered
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 17, 2024
Paris was on the move, and Napoleon III’s Second Empire had provided the impetus.
This is the history of Paris’s transformation from a labyrinthine mess of archaic streets and buildings to the Paris of today; the city of light.
The book takes us from the early days of the reign of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte and his far-seeing and ambitious prefect of Paris Georges Haussmann.
He had seen much of his vision realized during his two decades of imperial rule, not the least being the completion of all of the major routes of France’s modern railway network. But chief of all, there was Paris, the city of dreams—undeniably, he and Haussmann together had transformed the city, a legacy in which he took the greatest pride.
During our journey we meet many prominent figures and read about their lives and the effects the political and social changes of the epoch had on them.
Notable among the cast of characters are the photographer Nadar, the painters, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet and Berthe Morisot, the actress, Sarah Bernhardt, the composer Georges Bizet and the authors, the brothers Goncourt, Alexandre Dumas père, Emile Zola and Victor Hugo.
The book ends after the humiliating defeat of France to Prussia and the deposition of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte on 1870.
It had been a long run—almost two decades—but perhaps inevitably, the empire that Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte had created was losing its energy, even as Louis-Napoleon himself was succumbing to illness and perhaps death.
This is the history of Paris’s transformation from a labyrinthine mess of archaic streets and buildings to the Paris of today; the city of light.
The book takes us from the early days of the reign of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte and his far-seeing and ambitious prefect of Paris Georges Haussmann.
He had seen much of his vision realized during his two decades of imperial rule, not the least being the completion of all of the major routes of France’s modern railway network. But chief of all, there was Paris, the city of dreams—undeniably, he and Haussmann together had transformed the city, a legacy in which he took the greatest pride.
During our journey we meet many prominent figures and read about their lives and the effects the political and social changes of the epoch had on them.
Notable among the cast of characters are the photographer Nadar, the painters, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet and Berthe Morisot, the actress, Sarah Bernhardt, the composer Georges Bizet and the authors, the brothers Goncourt, Alexandre Dumas père, Emile Zola and Victor Hugo.
The book ends after the humiliating defeat of France to Prussia and the deposition of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte on 1870.
It had been a long run—almost two decades—but perhaps inevitably, the empire that Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte had created was losing its energy, even as Louis-Napoleon himself was succumbing to illness and perhaps death.
October 19, 2023
The Second Empire of Napoleon III, 1851-1870, is a really interesting period. Modern Paris was built during this reasonably short period of time, at great social and financial cost. McAuliffe covers the personalities of the time, including Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, a young Clemenceau along with performers, writers and artists on the verge of huge success, such as Zola, Monet and Cezanne. While the Empire ended in disaster with French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the ground was laid for the cultural flourishing that was to come next during the Belle Époque. This would make a great companion work if you are working your way through Zola’s Rougon-Maquart sequence, which is set during this time.
September 17, 2020
If you're looking for a casual history of Paris during the Second French Empire that mixes political, urban, and social history, this is probably the book for you. Mary McAuliffe weaves the story of Napoleon III's rise and fall with a focus on George Haussmann's transformation of Paris. Interspersed are anecdotes from the lives of a handful of artists, writers, musicians and other cultural figures of the time--including Manet, Hugo, and Bizet. At times it was a little bit too hodgepodge for my tastes, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do.
I came to this book in a bit of a roundabout way. Through my work, I have access to Naxos Music Library, a classical music streaming service. Listening to music while I work has really helped during the pandemic, and Naxos has allowed me to listen to albums I never would come across otherwise. One such series was Naxos' Art and Music. Each CD features classical music from the lifespan of a specific artist. Though it starts as early as the Renaissance and covers artists from all over Europe, there's a large focus on late 19th century French artists, and by extension French composers. The liner notes of these CDs piqued my interest in this combination, so I searched for a book that would talk about both composers and painters of this time.
Well Paris, City of Dreams: Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris more or less scratched my itch. Though Haussmann's transformation is the main throughline, McAuliffe follows dozens of culture figures throughout this period. In addition to the ones I've already mention, Claude Monet, Emile Zola, Gustave Eiffel (pre-Tower), Paul Cezanne, Camille Pissarro, Eugene Delacroix, Alexander Dumas (father and son) and Jacques Offenbach all make appearances. She also covers people I was not familiar with. Of course, this is not exactly a negative. I enjoyed learning about certain people I hadn't heard of before, like the Goncourt Brothers, Nadar the photographer, Maxim du Camp, or Sarah Bernhardt. At times it was a bit confusing to remember who exactly was who, so perhaps a "Cast of Characters" table in the front matter might have helped me. In addition, since McAuliffe focuses just on the French Second Empire (1852-1870), some of these people's lives are a bit truncated at the end. You're promised that some of them do eventually go on to greatness and glory, if just not yet--but stay tuned for the sequel. (Actually, this isn't a joke: McAuliffe has written four other books about Paris from 1870-1940. Presumably many of the people introduced in City of Dreams have their full story told in the other volumes.) Nonetheless, using these people's perspectives as the backdrop to what Haussmann was accomplishing provided a cultural component that probably is lacking in more straightforward accounts of the Haussmannization of Paris.
I also enjoyed the discussion of Haussmann, whose renovation of Paris was not dissimilar to Boss Shepherd's transformation of Washington, DC, which I wrote my Master's Thesis on. From 1853-1870, basically the frame of this book, Haussmann oversaw a massive program that totally revamped Paris, carving out cramped medieval streets and replacing them with wide boulevards. He also undertook other civic projects like aqueducts, sewers, and public parks. McAuliffe does a fine job explaining these radical changes to the urban fabric of Paris, though at times it gets slightly repetitive. There are only so many ways you can describe replacing labyrinth alleys with bright, wide avenues.
Putting aside this quirk, my biggest complaint is that there were not more images and maps that showed the transformations of Paris. To be fair, each chapter opens with an image, and there are some other ones scattered throughout. There also is a modern map of Paris at the start of the book, with key locations listed. But, even with such illustrations, I constantly found myself going to Wikipedia or even Google Maps to try to figure out the geography of these changes. Fortunately the Wikipedia page of Haussmann's renovations is fantastic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haussma.... For instance, this map is super helpful, and something I wish McAuliffe had tried to emulate. (At times, a cynical part of me thought I would've been better off just printing the wiki page and reading that instead.) Perhaps if I was more intimately familiar with Paris, say if I had lived there or visited it more recently (my only trip was in 2004), then I would've known exactly what or where she was talking about.
In the end, I think having such a connection to Paris would greatly improve one's enjoyment of this book, but isn't necessarily required. Paris is a heavily romanticized and idealized city in the Western imagination, and the focuses of Paris, City of Dreams: Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris have played a large part in that fascination. The cultural characters that populate these pages have given the city an indelible, unique cachet. And Haussmann quite literally created the physical manifestation of that environment. "Paris is always a good idea," goes the line, and learning more about that city's history was a good idea.
I came to this book in a bit of a roundabout way. Through my work, I have access to Naxos Music Library, a classical music streaming service. Listening to music while I work has really helped during the pandemic, and Naxos has allowed me to listen to albums I never would come across otherwise. One such series was Naxos' Art and Music. Each CD features classical music from the lifespan of a specific artist. Though it starts as early as the Renaissance and covers artists from all over Europe, there's a large focus on late 19th century French artists, and by extension French composers. The liner notes of these CDs piqued my interest in this combination, so I searched for a book that would talk about both composers and painters of this time.
Well Paris, City of Dreams: Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris more or less scratched my itch. Though Haussmann's transformation is the main throughline, McAuliffe follows dozens of culture figures throughout this period. In addition to the ones I've already mention, Claude Monet, Emile Zola, Gustave Eiffel (pre-Tower), Paul Cezanne, Camille Pissarro, Eugene Delacroix, Alexander Dumas (father and son) and Jacques Offenbach all make appearances. She also covers people I was not familiar with. Of course, this is not exactly a negative. I enjoyed learning about certain people I hadn't heard of before, like the Goncourt Brothers, Nadar the photographer, Maxim du Camp, or Sarah Bernhardt. At times it was a bit confusing to remember who exactly was who, so perhaps a "Cast of Characters" table in the front matter might have helped me. In addition, since McAuliffe focuses just on the French Second Empire (1852-1870), some of these people's lives are a bit truncated at the end. You're promised that some of them do eventually go on to greatness and glory, if just not yet--but stay tuned for the sequel. (Actually, this isn't a joke: McAuliffe has written four other books about Paris from 1870-1940. Presumably many of the people introduced in City of Dreams have their full story told in the other volumes.) Nonetheless, using these people's perspectives as the backdrop to what Haussmann was accomplishing provided a cultural component that probably is lacking in more straightforward accounts of the Haussmannization of Paris.
I also enjoyed the discussion of Haussmann, whose renovation of Paris was not dissimilar to Boss Shepherd's transformation of Washington, DC, which I wrote my Master's Thesis on. From 1853-1870, basically the frame of this book, Haussmann oversaw a massive program that totally revamped Paris, carving out cramped medieval streets and replacing them with wide boulevards. He also undertook other civic projects like aqueducts, sewers, and public parks. McAuliffe does a fine job explaining these radical changes to the urban fabric of Paris, though at times it gets slightly repetitive. There are only so many ways you can describe replacing labyrinth alleys with bright, wide avenues.
Putting aside this quirk, my biggest complaint is that there were not more images and maps that showed the transformations of Paris. To be fair, each chapter opens with an image, and there are some other ones scattered throughout. There also is a modern map of Paris at the start of the book, with key locations listed. But, even with such illustrations, I constantly found myself going to Wikipedia or even Google Maps to try to figure out the geography of these changes. Fortunately the Wikipedia page of Haussmann's renovations is fantastic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haussma.... For instance, this map is super helpful, and something I wish McAuliffe had tried to emulate. (At times, a cynical part of me thought I would've been better off just printing the wiki page and reading that instead.) Perhaps if I was more intimately familiar with Paris, say if I had lived there or visited it more recently (my only trip was in 2004), then I would've known exactly what or where she was talking about.
In the end, I think having such a connection to Paris would greatly improve one's enjoyment of this book, but isn't necessarily required. Paris is a heavily romanticized and idealized city in the Western imagination, and the focuses of Paris, City of Dreams: Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris have played a large part in that fascination. The cultural characters that populate these pages have given the city an indelible, unique cachet. And Haussmann quite literally created the physical manifestation of that environment. "Paris is always a good idea," goes the line, and learning more about that city's history was a good idea.
June 14, 2022
Filled in a lot of gaps I had about Napoleon III and that era in French history. If you love art, you will enjoy this immensely. It fleshes out all the greats of that time including the talented Morisot sisters (Berthe and Edma) and their interesting relations with Manet. The lives of all these artist (many who were friends) before they were successful. Focuses a lot on Haussmann- which I enjoyed as well. The politics behind all his planning was interesting (wide avenues to make the famous Parisian barricades more difficult, for example). I really enjoyed it and will read her other books on later periods leading to the Belle Époque up until WWII. An engaging history writer.
November 4, 2023
McA.’s old formula is either less successful than before or growing tiresome. Her treatment of the Empire is, this time, very superficial
January 13, 2021
An interesting read, particularly about the rebuilding of Paris. But ultimately a bit superficial.I will move on to the other books in the series but not to expect much. This is descriptive history rather than critical history.
September 6, 2023
I came for the architecture and politics and intrigue and royal gossip and anecdotes filled with 19th Century French luminaries. And that was all there. But it turns out even with so much potentially fascinating material this was a little like ordering a French pastry and getting a week-old Sam's Club croissant. It was meticulously researched and I really really wanted to like it, but ... I didn't.
November 27, 2022
My favorite bedtime story is one of urban planning: the creation of Paris. The City of Light has had over 2,00o years to develop, with each ruler putting forth their own stamp on it, and none more so than the Second Empire's Napoleon III and his prefect of the Seine, Baron Haussmann. There are shelves of books devoted to 1848-1871 Paris, and Mary McAuliffe's "Paris, City of Dreams: Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris" is among them. At 290 pages, McAuliffe's book is a good primer for those who want to learn more about the city. She covers the rise Napoleon III's rise to power, his authoritarian regime, and his grand plan for Paris. Only in power for twenty years, his role in history seems to be to build the city we know and love today and to overestimate France's capabilities in a pissing contest with Prussia, setting the stage for the Franc0-Prussian War that ended his reign. To put his grand design in motion, he promote Baron Haussmann to raise the funds, raze the city, and over time, raise the hackles of those who felt he overstepped his bounds. Swept up in this time are Manet, Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, Degas, Nadar, Gustave Eiffel, Sarah Bernhardt, Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas, George Sand, the Goncourt Brothers, Emile Zola, Baudelaire, Georges Clemenceau, all who are pushing forward new visions in art, letters, and governance. All of these people are out-sized characters-- fitting for a time period of tremendous change.
Unsurprisingly in a book about so much in so few pages, it is a disjointed read. McAuliffe goes into the how and why Paris was torn down and rebuilt and the drama that ensued on a municipal level, but when discussing the other who's who in the city, it is like they are inhabiting a different world. For example, Manet is the artist who most captured the modernity of the city, and he was there while building and roads are being torn down. He must have born witness to it, but there is very little correlation of how the changes occurring around him, impact him or his art. How did he get through the rebuilding process unscathed? The structure is also hodgepodge Each chapter began with the progression of Napoleon III and Haussmann's vision, and the stories about everyone else were tacked on at the end. I wish she had begun each chapter with a notable person and then thematically transitioned into the development of the city.
For a book about the rebuilding of Paris, there are very few helpful pictures and maps. I found myself wishing for more pictures of what Paris looked like before, what the rebuilding process looked like, and how it was transformed. There were three phases to the growth of the city, and I would have liked some maps showing the areas of each and also have some side-by-side before and after maps to fully appreciate the changes they made. As someone who has been to Paris often and has a fairly decent mental map of it, I had to routinely consult Google Maps to get my bearings.
The problem with this book is also me. I have read several books about this time period and find that many have the breadth, but not the depth, that I seek. I am now seeking books about other subjects during this time period in order to get a new angle on this bedtime story.
Unsurprisingly in a book about so much in so few pages, it is a disjointed read. McAuliffe goes into the how and why Paris was torn down and rebuilt and the drama that ensued on a municipal level, but when discussing the other who's who in the city, it is like they are inhabiting a different world. For example, Manet is the artist who most captured the modernity of the city, and he was there while building and roads are being torn down. He must have born witness to it, but there is very little correlation of how the changes occurring around him, impact him or his art. How did he get through the rebuilding process unscathed? The structure is also hodgepodge Each chapter began with the progression of Napoleon III and Haussmann's vision, and the stories about everyone else were tacked on at the end. I wish she had begun each chapter with a notable person and then thematically transitioned into the development of the city.
For a book about the rebuilding of Paris, there are very few helpful pictures and maps. I found myself wishing for more pictures of what Paris looked like before, what the rebuilding process looked like, and how it was transformed. There were three phases to the growth of the city, and I would have liked some maps showing the areas of each and also have some side-by-side before and after maps to fully appreciate the changes they made. As someone who has been to Paris often and has a fairly decent mental map of it, I had to routinely consult Google Maps to get my bearings.
The problem with this book is also me. I have read several books about this time period and find that many have the breadth, but not the depth, that I seek. I am now seeking books about other subjects during this time period in order to get a new angle on this bedtime story.
August 23, 2024
I have always been fascinated by how cities got to be the cities that they are. Paris, City of Dreams begins to answer that city's question while prompting the reader - if truly interested - to search additional sources for more in depth information. Most of the mentioned writers, artists, engineers, actresses, financiers, developers and the like that formed the era: politically, artistically, socially and architecturally are character sketches. Some more extensive than others. That said, McAuliffe paints an enlightening if fleeting picture of Paris from 1848 to 1871. Paris went from squaller to glory (City of Dreams) to ashes in that time period. Realistically, considering all that happened in Paris during that period she covers a lot of ground in 290 pages.
While I enjoyed the book and recommend it to the curious and casual reader, two areas of disappointment and frustration exist for me. The references to artists paintings by name without any visual references included in the book assumes - for example- that a reader unfamiliar with the art or artists of the period, can visualize a Monet or a Manet painting by simply naming the works. Secondly there is continual reference to the the work of Baron Haussmann - who masterminded perhaps the greatest urban renewal project in Europe up to that date or beyond,. He rerouted, renamed or newly created avenues, neighborhoods, parks, squares, buildings and indeed great portions of the center of the city. The author spends a fair amount of print describing such and such avenue that was formerly known as this but now named that and was designed to go from this area to that area. Yet, the one and only map included in the book neither graphically shows or names any of these avenues or developments nor identifies the before construction and after results for comparison. For example a certain page describes the problems presented at the time by the Canal St. Martin and it's surrounding poverty stricken area. If you know the area - which has been reclaimed again in the past few years - you understand from the book's description what was done. On the other hand without reference maps of some sort a reader unfamiliar to the city doesn't have any idea where this is. I know an in depth historical or pictorial treatment is not the intent of this book, but I think the casual reader could have used a little help.
While I enjoyed the book and recommend it to the curious and casual reader, two areas of disappointment and frustration exist for me. The references to artists paintings by name without any visual references included in the book assumes - for example- that a reader unfamiliar with the art or artists of the period, can visualize a Monet or a Manet painting by simply naming the works. Secondly there is continual reference to the the work of Baron Haussmann - who masterminded perhaps the greatest urban renewal project in Europe up to that date or beyond,. He rerouted, renamed or newly created avenues, neighborhoods, parks, squares, buildings and indeed great portions of the center of the city. The author spends a fair amount of print describing such and such avenue that was formerly known as this but now named that and was designed to go from this area to that area. Yet, the one and only map included in the book neither graphically shows or names any of these avenues or developments nor identifies the before construction and after results for comparison. For example a certain page describes the problems presented at the time by the Canal St. Martin and it's surrounding poverty stricken area. If you know the area - which has been reclaimed again in the past few years - you understand from the book's description what was done. On the other hand without reference maps of some sort a reader unfamiliar to the city doesn't have any idea where this is. I know an in depth historical or pictorial treatment is not the intent of this book, but I think the casual reader could have used a little help.
May 4, 2023
Paris, City of Dreams is a charming, well-written and graceful portrayal of the period when Paris was rebuilt by Louis Napolean under the direction of Baron Haussmann, the autocratic and determined prefect of Paris appointed by Napolean III. The history of this period, from about 1850 through 1870, with a brief review of the revolutionary spirits of the democratic resurgence in Paris and the later decline of Napolean's doomed reign after the invasion of Paris by Prussian military forces, showcases the painters, writers, poets, and architects of the period.
Under Haussmann's autocratic rule, the Paris of the wide boulevards, massive and beautiful parks, and brick apartment blocks that we see today were financed and built over the 20-year period that Haussmann reigned before both he and Napolean were forced from their ruling perches.
Part of my enjoyment of this wonderful book was recalling my days as a college student 55 years ago when, as a sophomore at Indiana University, Bloomington, I took a Comparative Literature course taught by a young, attractive French woman who introduced and opened my young mind to the same artists, writers, and poets highlighted in Mary McAuliffe's book. It's thrilling to remember those days and the excitement of learning something new taught by a beautiful, enthusiastic, and expressive French woman. There is joy in these recollections, which partly may explain my pleasure in reading this book.
Under Haussmann's autocratic rule, the Paris of the wide boulevards, massive and beautiful parks, and brick apartment blocks that we see today were financed and built over the 20-year period that Haussmann reigned before both he and Napolean were forced from their ruling perches.
Part of my enjoyment of this wonderful book was recalling my days as a college student 55 years ago when, as a sophomore at Indiana University, Bloomington, I took a Comparative Literature course taught by a young, attractive French woman who introduced and opened my young mind to the same artists, writers, and poets highlighted in Mary McAuliffe's book. It's thrilling to remember those days and the excitement of learning something new taught by a beautiful, enthusiastic, and expressive French woman. There is joy in these recollections, which partly may explain my pleasure in reading this book.
February 2, 2025
This is a history of Paris during the reign of Napoleon III. Explores the architectural development of the city led by Baron Haussmann. There are not many history books where civil engineers get a mention. Have to love that. I do think it would be easier to watch a video about architecture than to read about it. That's my only negative about this book. The author also introduces multitudes of famous artists, writers, composers, and other creatives. From Manet to Monet to Victor Hugo and so many more. They are famous now, but at the time of this book, many were struggling. Fascinating to see so many famous names all in one time period and location. I would love to know more about Napoleon III's wife, Eugénie de Montijo. She sounds fascinating and very active in the government when circumstances permitted. Unfortunately, I do not find much serious history or biography about her. Overall, this is a nice history of Paris covering political figures, architectural developments, and lives of creatives during Napoleon III's reign.
August 26, 2022
This is one of five volumes, each covering 10 - 20 years in the history of Paris up to WWII. (Perhaps a 6th volume is in the works?) Each provides the reader with an insider view of commerce, politics, art, culture, wars, and social movements through the lives and words of famous Parisians. The narrative is chronological, each chapter covering a year. McAuliffe threads primary materials throughout the volumes in short (1-2 page) vignettes of major events, struggles and successes of notables such as Baron Haussmann, Sarah Bernhardt, Victor Hugo, Georges Clemenceau, Charles de Gaulle, Claude Monet and other fascinating figures. Gossipy observations about messy rivalries or relationship scandals are interspersed with serious treatment of wartime or newsworthy events, such as the Paris Commune. This results in an unusual but effective style that engages the reader throughout each c. 300 page volume. Recommended for more serious non-fiction readers. Would be worth the effort for anyone who wants to understand Paris from the view of prominent Parisiennes.
June 5, 2025
This book goes back and forth between the story of Baron Haussmann's remaking of Paris (which i was very interested in) and the stories of various French intellectuals (which I found to be less interesting). I would have liked a shorter book more focused on Haussmann, but other readers may disagree.
Haussmann took apart medieval Paris, a city of one-story buildings and narrow alleys, and turned it into the central Paris of today, a midrise city with wider streets. In addition to building streets he organized other kinds of infrastructure such as parks and sewers.
Surprisingly, he was controversial in his time- not just because his projects were expensive and displaced poor slum residents, but also because not everyone loved the new Paris. For example, one journalist quoted in this book described the new city as "cold" and "colorless"
Haussmann took apart medieval Paris, a city of one-story buildings and narrow alleys, and turned it into the central Paris of today, a midrise city with wider streets. In addition to building streets he organized other kinds of infrastructure such as parks and sewers.
Surprisingly, he was controversial in his time- not just because his projects were expensive and displaced poor slum residents, but also because not everyone loved the new Paris. For example, one journalist quoted in this book described the new city as "cold" and "colorless"
February 15, 2025
Surprisingly insightful on Napoleon III. I thought there might be more regarding Haussmann and the engineering, but maybe it would have bogged down for other readers had that detail been loaded in.
The early days of the great artists, like Monet, Manet, Zola, yes, even Eiffel, is fascinating, and the overlap with the prior creators like Dumas père and Delacroix was revealing for how the next wave of artists was both related to, and rebellious against, the Second Empire's art-police.
As with her other volumes on Paris, a solid read.
The early days of the great artists, like Monet, Manet, Zola, yes, even Eiffel, is fascinating, and the overlap with the prior creators like Dumas père and Delacroix was revealing for how the next wave of artists was both related to, and rebellious against, the Second Empire's art-police.
As with her other volumes on Paris, a solid read.
November 11, 2025
Haussmann!
For years I have been searching for a book on Haussmann’s Paris, and here it was, buried in the subtitle of a book on Paris I had already bought and was in my listening queue! An excellent book that gives all the contextual context I needed on Paris in the time of Napoleon III, including the remaking of the city. These are the changes that give us the Paris we know today. Lots on the artists and literary figures of the time. Highly recommended!
I listened to the Audible audiobook
For years I have been searching for a book on Haussmann’s Paris, and here it was, buried in the subtitle of a book on Paris I had already bought and was in my listening queue! An excellent book that gives all the contextual context I needed on Paris in the time of Napoleon III, including the remaking of the city. These are the changes that give us the Paris we know today. Lots on the artists and literary figures of the time. Highly recommended!
I listened to the Audible audiobook
April 15, 2023
DNF
The author is sharing a lot of information but missing a running narrative to help the reader keep their facts straight. Within one two page spread she changes the subject (indicated by a page break) several times and begins talking about a different person/time/place. The tendency towards wordiness and run-on sentences makes it that much more difficult to follow.
The author is sharing a lot of information but missing a running narrative to help the reader keep their facts straight. Within one two page spread she changes the subject (indicated by a page break) several times and begins talking about a different person/time/place. The tendency towards wordiness and run-on sentences makes it that much more difficult to follow.
October 6, 2023
M-a scufundat intr-o lume familiara, insa cu multe lucruri inca de descoperit (amanunte, legaturi intre fapte, intre oameni - monstri sacri!). Doua mici bemoluri: un stil putin cam prea jurnalistic, factual, alert si lipsa hartilor/desenelor care sa plimbe cititorul prin Parisul de dinainte, din timpul si de dupa Haussmann.
February 13, 2024
McAuliffe’s series on the cultural history of nineteenth century Paris is fascinating, highly readable, and equally informative.
This entry, covering Napoleon III’s second empire, should be the standard bearer for those interested in the social and cultural history of this era.
This entry, covering Napoleon III’s second empire, should be the standard bearer for those interested in the social and cultural history of this era.
November 7, 2022
A nice survey of Paris from the Revolution of 1848 to the Franco-Prussian War. A nice blend of the political and cultural evolution of Paris. On to McAuliffe's Dawn of the Belle Epoque ...
April 4, 2023
Love this series.
May 21, 2023
Paris as Hausmann & Napoleon III brought the City of Light into the modern world.
January 14, 2021
Six months ago I had no idea my degree was going to get me obsessed with Parisian culture, and frankly I want my money back
November 2, 2020
A little shorter, a little more focused, and narratively structured around Baron Hausmann's rebuilding of Paris. An excellent read.
November 16, 2020
Good read
A broad foundation presented. Covers a complex ground with a series of key individuals. More maps needed. Worth reading to get started with this period.
A broad foundation presented. Covers a complex ground with a series of key individuals. More maps needed. Worth reading to get started with this period.
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