A Corner in the Marais: Memoir of a Paris Neighborhood

by Alex Karmel

Novelist and historian Alex Karmel traces the architectural and social development of Paris, from its Roman origins, its transformation under Henry IV and Haussmann, to the present renovation of old neighbourhoods. He concludes with a walking tour of the Marais, through Paris' rich history.

Genres: France, Paris, Memoir, Travel, Nonfiction, History, Cities

149 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2002

Reviews

[Heather McKay Guillemot · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book in the style of 'A Year in Provence', this is not the book for you. This is more of a ( in iTunes lingo ) 'Deep Cuts' book for the Francophile. Karmel and his French wife bought a flat in the Marais, and he details the history of the house itself as well as the area and a fair bit of French history is thrown in the mix as well. The struggles of setting up the house are not the point ofmthe book, although that would make interesting reading. His digging deep to see when the first home was constructed on the site of his flat, and what 'it' saw through history was.

It is a fairly thin book but rather chock full of history versus anecdotes. This book would best suit someone who has a good half dozen or so books about France under their belt. It would be a bore to people looking for cute places to visit while on holiday in Paris, or people wanting to read the adventures of creating a life there. The story is about things around his home, minimally about what happens in there, to his family.

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author notes in the Foreword that “what has always interested me most in history is not the lives of great men or the analysis of the social, political, and economic forces that determined the great events, but rather the attempt to recreate a sense of what it was like to be an ordinary person living in a given era.” Wow. A sentiment and a view of the past that is exactly after my own heart.

The author first saw Paris in the summer of 1949, as a Columbia undergraduate, and was immediately smitten. He felt he was “coming home” and for the next thirty-odd years he spent as much time there as possible. His second wife was Parisian herself and in the early 1980s, when they decided to relocate to France full-time, to a place in the country, they also decided to find a pied à terre in the city. What they came up with was a very small but recently renovated sixth-floor walk-up in a very old building in the quarter known as the Marais -- “the marsh” -- which was a run-down neighborhood at that time full of mostly-Jewish immigrants, but which had once been a middle-class district just inside the city wall (and which now has been rediscovered and includes some of the highest-priced residential property in Paris).

In Boston or Philadelphia, a home that dates from even 1700 is regarded with awe and is probably under the care of the local historical society. In most cases, it wouldn’t even be a private residence any longer but would have been turned into a museum. Karmel’s building, however, dates from at least the 1390s -- more than six centuries ago, during the Hundred Years War, and a century even before Columbus’s first voyage. When he finally discovered just how old it was, he began researching the history of the building, the block it was located on, and the Marais generally, and he presents his findings here in a very readable and entirely fascinating way. Most of the building’s history, of course, is anonymous, especially since most early records regarding fiefs and property rights were systematically destroyed during the Revolution -- but enough documents survived to cast light here and there. This is a especially true of what appears to be an auction of the property for debt in the mid-17th century, which was carefully stage-managed by those concerned in order to establish solid title to the property. He explains, too, the legal convolutions necessary in France at that time, and what sort of records were created as a result, all of which should be of considerable use to anyone with an interest in European history of that period -- and his somewhat bemused attempts to untangle all the layers of familial relationships involved will interest genealogists. It isn’t a big book, less than 150 pages, but it’s easy to lose an afternoon in the story Karmel tells.

[Victoria Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Le Marais is the closest you will get to the feel of medieval Paris and has more pre-revolutionary buildings and streets left intact than any other area in Paris. " This book informs one of pretty much anything one could want to know about this area of Paris and its amazing history. Alex Karmel gives a rich account of the personal experience of living there, interwoven with wonderful and very detailed accounts of the history and architecture of this ancient neighborhood. The book is peppered with some nice black and white photographs. I will probably read it again at some point, and the next read will be accompanied by wine, croissants, and macaroons..... A must read for any serious Francophile.

[Scott]

A quick, pleasant read about the Marais and Paris through the lens of the author researching the history of his Parisian apartment. Great for picking up some history and getting into a Frenchie state of mind before traveling there.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for those who: a.) love reading history, b.) love Paris, and c.) love the left bank, the Marais and Paris in general. Some might find the history of this delightful neighborhood boring, but I started it before we went to Paris and finished it after we got back and really enjoyed it. We spent time in many of the areas covered in this book so I particularly enjoyed the reading and depth of this book--it was like going back for a walk through the Marais. Parts of the book did feel too detailed or redundant if you don’t have a deep interest in the area.

[Jonathan Azoulai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the author painting a picture of the Le Marais neighborhood in Paris. The amount of detail is astounding and I appreciate the elements of urban planning. I particularly enjoyed the first half of the book which was more about his personal journey. Ultimately far too much granular detail of the history of property ownership in the neighborhood. Impressive research but engaging enough.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this short book but I felt that there should have been more about his life and the neighborhood.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the history of one neighborhood in Paris and the centuries of history in its development.

[Marcy Heller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful trip through time and place, just a few blocks from my own corner in the Marais. A terrific little read answering many of the questions I've asked myself over the years.

[Calee Spinney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I liked the idea of it more than I actually enjoyed reading it. Some sections were so dull that I would have to re-read them multiple times before I could keep my attention and move on.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this interesting and informative. I do love Paris, and have a soft spot for this neighborhood. I do note that the author can get bogged down in details that don’t perhaps end up evoking as much as he seems to think, but perhaps he’a trying to be a bit more academic than I would prefer. Regardless, it’s still a good one for those interested in the place.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a mixed bag. Some parts are very interesting; other parts are tedious.

Nevertheless, anyone who plans to visit Paris should read this book before leaving. It contains a wealth of information about the Marais, its history and development. And for those who have already visited Paris, you should also read it. The book will make you want to return.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

If buildings could talk. This book tells the history of a neighborhood in Paris. About when the buildings were built and things that went on during different periods of history. It is interesting and thank goodness not many pages so a quick read.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of a small part of the Marais

[Donna Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I have a 1/13th share of an apartment in the Marais, about 4 blocks from the author's little corner, I enjoyed what he had learned of the history of the area.

[Susan Leigh Connors · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave 3 stars, as there are some aspects of the books I liked - description of Le Marais - and some parts had too much detail for me.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the premise was very interesting.
Trace the history of Paris though one house in one district. From Medival Times to current day it's quite interesting to see how the city grew, laws developed, the architecture was altered, and the neighborhood expanded and contracted. The social events and simple ideas of how meals were prepared and clothes were watched were very enjoyable. The detailed chapter on the auction sale of the property was rather tedious. It was nice to read Karmel's research through the eyes of the structures.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir celebrates the author's love for Paris and includes a very readable brief history of the city and its architecture. His particular focus is the Marais district, and he relates the long history of his apartment home, which he learns through his research has existed for six centuries. I found the book to be a very interesting description of one of my favorite sections of the city.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A personal account of buying an apartment in a historic building in my favorite neighborhood of Paris. I was hoping to use the author's examples of primary source research in a course I was teaching, but they were few and far between. Still interesting, though.

[Nicky]

So far it's a bit dry, but since I'll be staying in this neighborhood next week I wanted to learn a bit more about it and this book came highly recommended.
***
Edit: Never finished this book, couldn't trudge through it. Blah.

[Wally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book about one particular building in one particular Parisian neighborhood, the Marais. A little dry, but if you know the neighborhood, you might end up searching out a few places for new perspective.

[September Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the concept of learning the history of one unique area through the years. A nice little book that gives you a feel for the times and although sometimes a bit slow. Would have liked a little more meat to the story.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

We stayed in the Marais on our trip to Paris in 2003, and I was enchanted. I liked the information provided by Karmel in the book, but it would have benefited from a map of the area. The quality of writing was inconsistent, but the content was very interesting.

[GG Carmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

didn't finish before going to Paris -- history of a building/home in the Marais district, a bit dry -- but we did search for and found the building

[Kathleen Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining, lots of historical detail and charm.

[Godine Publisher & Black Sparrow Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Karmel illuminates shadows of French history, architecture, even character and theater with a novelist's knack for detail and an architect's eye for stories in stone."
— The New York Times

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting history of the Marais neighborhood in Paris.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book over 12 years ago and the images invoked are still vivid in my mind. A must-read for anyone who loves all things French!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very interesting to learn about the Marais district, but the book turned out a little more historical and a little less memoir-ish than I had anticipated. Definitely a quick read, though!

[Champagnesnob]

Did not really get involved in this book. The premise is very interesting but it's more about the author and his wife buying a house than a history of the Marais...