Seven Ages of Paris, Alistair Horne
Seven Ages of Paris, Alistair Horne
List: $29.99 | Sale: $21.00
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Seven Ages of Paris

Author: Alistair Horne

Narrator: Derek Perkins

Unabridged: 20 hr 49 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/20/2018


Synopsis

In this luminous portrait of Paris, the celebrated historian gives us the history, culture, disasters, and triumphs of one of the world's truly great cities. While Paris may be many things, it is never boring.

From the rise of Philippe Auguste through the reigns of Henry IV and Louis XIV (who abandoned Paris for Versailles); Napoleon's rise and fall; Baron Haussmann's rebuilding of Paris (at the cost of much of the medieval city); the Belle Epoque and the Great War that brought it to an end; the Nazi Occupation, the Liberation, and the postwar period dominated by de Gaulle—Horne brings the city's highs and lows, savagery and sophistication, and heroes and villains splendidly to life. With a keen eye for the telling anecdote and pivotal moment, he portrays an array of vivid incidents to show us how Paris endures through each age, is altered but always emerges more brilliant and beautiful than ever. The Seven Ages of Paris is a great historian's tribute to a city he loves and has spent a lifetime learning to know.

About Alistair Horne

Alistair Horne is the author of over twenty books on history and politics. They include A Savage War of Peace, The Price of Glory, How Far from Austerlitz?, and the official biography of British prime minister Harold Macmillan. In 1969, he founded the Alistair Horne Fellowship to help young historians at St. Antony's College, Oxford. He was awarded the French Legion d'Honneur in 1993 and received a knighthood in 2003 for his work on French history. Horne and his artist wife, Sheelin, live in Oxfordshire.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Paul on July 02, 2024

The seven ages of Paris, according to historian Alistair Horne, can be organized around (1) Philippe Auguste, (2) Henri IV, (3) Louis XIV, (4) Napoleon, (5) the Paris Commune, (6) the Treaty of Versailles, and (7) Charles de Gaulle; and such a plan of organization seems suitable for Seven Ages of Pa......more

Goodreads review by Sketchbook on November 25, 2016

3 stars ? Very generous. Instinct told me : do not read in chrono order. So I began with the 6th "Age," which begins w La Belle Epoque and covers W1, and moves into the 7th "Age," W2 and ends c 1969. Instinct was kerect. Author Horne -- in 400 pages -- condenses centuries of French history and shows......more

Goodreads review by Lewis on October 20, 2018

a marvelous summary of the history of Paris ... I read the section on the Nazi occupation which was excellent......more

Goodreads review by Roy on July 15, 2019

This book is thoroughly readable and yet ultimately disappointing. I opened it expecting an account of how Paris came to take on its current form. Horne does discuss this, of course. But his main focus is military and political history—a series of rulers, great and petty, who march across the stage......more

Goodreads review by Brian on June 24, 2020

I really liked this survey of French history, enclosed by its impact on the city of Paris itself. The "Seven Ages" trope exists to focus on the highlights of that history, though other eras are discussed when necessary. In reality, it is a history of France in seven major eras, supplemented by the d......more