Paris
Books | Fiction / Historical / General
3.9
(689)
Edward Rutherfurd
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom Edward Rutherfurd, the grand master of the historical novel, comes a dazzling epic about the magnificent city of Paris. Moving back and forth in time, the story unfolds through intimate and thrilling tales of self-discovery, divided loyalty, and long-kept secrets. As various characters come of age, seek their fortunes, and fall in and out of love, the novel follows nobles who claim descent from the hero of the celebrated poem The Song of Roland; a humble family that embodies the ideals of the French Revolution; a pair of brothers from the slums behind Montmartre, one of whom works on the Eiffel Tower as the other joins the underworld near the Moulin Rouge; and merchants who lose everything during the reign of Louis XV, rise again in the age of Napoleon, and help establish Paris as the great center of art and culture that it is today. With Rutherfurd’s unrivaled blend of impeccable research and narrative verve, this bold novel brings the sights, scents, and tastes of the City of Light to brilliant life.Praise for Paris“A tour de force . . . [Edward Rutherfurd’s] most romantic and richly detailed work of fiction yet.”—Bookreporter“Fantastic . . . as grand and engrossing as Paris itself.”—Historical Novels Review“This saga is filled with historical detail and a huge cast of characters, fictional and real, spanning generations and centuries. But Paris, with its art, architecture, culture and couture, is the undisputed main character.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram“Both Paris, the venerable City of Light, and Rutherfurd, the undisputed master of the multigenerational historical saga, shine in this sumptuous urban epic.”—Booklist“There is suspense, intrigue and romance around every corner.”—Asbury Park Press
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More Details:
Author
Edward Rutherfurd
Pages
832
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
Published Date
2013-04-23
ISBN
0385535317 9780385535311
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"This ambitious, fictionalized history of Paris covers 700 years by following the lineage of six families from the 13th century to the 20th century. So much history, no wonder it’s a hefty tome. Recommended for historical fiction, history and not-afraid-to-tackle-an-800-page-book readers!"
"An awesome historical fiction novel"
J j
Jennifer johnston
"I found this slow going initially; Rutherford suffers from "info dump", a common malady among historical fictionists who choose tedious background exposition over believable dialogue. Characters of all ages and backgrounds rattle on endlessly about eminently skippable details of French history while the narrative drags.<br/><br/>A further annoyance is the structure: beginning in 1875 then zipping back to 1275, then off to 1888, then a quick detour to 1572; we rarely stay in one century long enough to get to know and care about anyone in it. Of the top heavy cast of characters, only a handful hold our attention.<br/><br/>That handful includes representatives of 4 major classes in French society: the aristocratic De Cygnes, the bourgeois Blanchards, salt of the earth worker Gascons, and the revolution-prone Le Sourds. Rutherford sets up a multi generational conflict between Roland De Cygne and Jacques Le Sourd; a De Cygne executed a Le Sourd a few years back, and the young Jacques has sworn to take revenge on young Roland.<br/><br/>Yet nothing is quite that simple, and as the 20th century dawns and the old class loyalties weaken, all 4 families are drawn into allyship against threats to French independence and freedom.<br/><br/>It is this latter third of the novel I found the most interesting, as Roland, Jacques and the Gascon brothers find common cause and overcome their class prejudices. While several plot points peter out, and others feel rushed and anticlimactic, the gradual forging of a cross class French nationalism and pride in the face of the unspeakable horrors of war is quite moving."
"I enjoy the way that Rutherfurd's novel bring a true sense of history to place. In "Paris", I got the walk the streets of a City I love over the period of 500+ years, with allusions to times even further back.<br/><br/>Can't wait to get back to Paris and walk them again with new memories."
T F
Terrell Fritz
"I have read this once , got me started on Edward Rutherford. Currently reading his “London”."
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Noreen Wilder
"Fantastic read!!!! Read it twice!"
M R
Michele Royer