Paris from the Ground Up (Paperback)

Paris is the most personal of cities. There is a Paris for the medievalist, and another for the modernist-a Paris for expatriates, philosophers, artists, romantics, and revolutionaries of every stripe. James H. S. McGregor brings these multiple perspectives into focus throughout this concise, unique history of the City of Light. His panorama begins with an ancient Gallic fortress on the Seine, burned to the ground by its own defenders in a vain effort to starve out Caesar's legions. After ninth-century raids by the Vikings ended, Parisians expanded the walls of their tiny sanctuary on the Ile de la Cite, turning the river's right bank into a thriving commercial district and the Rive Gauche into a college town. Gothic spires expressed a taste for architectural novelty, matched only by the palaces and pleasure gardens of successive monarchs whose ingenuity made Paris the epitome of everything French. The fires of Revolution threatened all that had come before, but Baron Haussmann saw opportunity in the wreckage. No planned city in the world is more famous than his. Paris from the Ground Up allows readers to trace the city's evolution in its architecture and art-from the Roman arena to the Musee d'Orsay, from the Louvre's defensive foundations to I. M. Pei's transparent pyramids. Color maps, along with identifying illustrations, make the city accessible to visitors by foot, Metro, or riverboat.

General

Imprint:	The Belknap Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	From the Ground Up
Release date:	November 2010
First published:	2009
Authors:	James H. S. McGregor
Dimensions:	229 x 146 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	352
ISBN-13:	978-0-674-05738-8
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > Architecture > General Books > Humanities > History > European history > General Books > Sport & Leisure > Travel & holiday > Travel & holiday guides > General Books > History > European history > General Books > Travel > Travel & holiday guides > General
LSN:	0-674-05738-4
Barcode:	9780674057388

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!