Seven Ages of Paris : Portrait of a City

In this wonderfully readable book, Alistair Horne tells the huge and romantic story of Paris through seven ages of turmoil and change: the Middle Ages, the 100 years war, the Paris of Louis XIV, the age of Napoleon, the Commune, the Empire days of Louis-Napoleon and Eugenie, and the First World War and De Gaulle.

Interweaving historical narrative with telling detail, this is a fluent and definitive work of social and cultural history. 'The best book I have read on Paris in a long time' - Gregor Dallas, BBC History Books of the Year. 'Reading Seven Ages of Paris is like taking an exciting trip in a French balloon' - Antonia Fraser, "New Statesman Books of the Year". 'Provides not only a panorama of the capital, but also a well-crafted history of France with a nice balance between broad overviews and engaging episodes and details' Jonathan Fenby, - "The Times".