Around and About Paris, Vol. 2: From the Guillotine to the Bastille Opera: The 8th-12th Arrondissements [Paperback]

Thirza Vallois (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Vallois, a 30-year resident of Paris, has written three wonderful volumes about her favorite city. She has spent seven of those years walking down every one of its streets, reading every available book written about it, interviewing old-timers, and then compiling all her research into these three extraordinary books. As each chapter unfolds, the reader walks with Vallois district by district along the streets of Paris, sharing in the art, literature, music, history, politics, science, religion, economics, entertainment, crime, passion, and local color of each unique arrondissement. The scenery changes from the past to the present, bringing Paris alive with tales from lifelong residents. Vallois's in-depth knowledge of the city and her acute attention to detail, delivered with fast-moving style, will be intriguing for both travelers and scholars. Recommended for larger libraries.AStephanie Papa, Baltimore Cty. Circuit Court Law Lib., Towson, MD
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

"There are guides to every aspect of Paris, from museums and bars to sex and shopping -- and then there are Thirza Vallois's extraordinary Around and About Paris."

Anthony Sattins, The Sunday Times, London

 

"I think we can safely toss all other Paris guides aside [...]

Paris is made for walking and Thirza Vallois's guides are made for Paris [...]. They should soon achieve legendary status."

William Boyd, The Spectator, London

"An astonishingly informative companion,"

The Times Literary Companion, London

"This is a book for those who think of Paris as an urban paradise [...].Vallois captures -- and opens up for all to taste -- the incomparable sense of the past one experiences walking the streets of Paris. Here's to Around and About Paris. On your next flight to Paris, don't leave home without it."

Patsy Baudoin, The Boston Book Review

"Treat yourself to this treasure!"

Booklist, The American Library Journal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Illiad Press; Revised edition (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0952537834
• ISBN-13: 978-0952537830
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thirza Vallois is an expert on all things Parisian. She has lived in Paris most of her life and holds the most prestigious doctoral-level Agrégation degree from the Sorbonne. Her "Around and About Paris" books have been universally acclaimed as the best travel books ever written on Paris, her "Romantic Paris" as the most exquisite. Her latest book, about the last hidden corner of France, "Aveyron, A Bridge to French Arcadia" was hailed as a revelation. She is also the author of the Paris entry to the Encarta Encyclopaedia.

Thirza Vallois lectures on Paris and France worldwide. Her audience includes museums, arts clubs, universities, libraries and various cultural institutions.She contributes regularly to television, radio and the international press. She has appeared on BBC, PBS, the Travel Channel, CNN, Discovery, the French Cultural Channel, has been aired on scores of radio stations in the US and Britain and has contributed articles to The Financial Times, United Airlines' Hemispheres, Condé Nast Traveller, among others. Her "Three Perfect Days in Paris" for Hemispheres Magazine has won her the NATJA (the North American Travel Journalists' Association) award. It was aired as a film on all United Airlines international flights and on television throughout the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mrs Vallois is a queen - Feel as her invitee in Paris, September 15, 2000

By 

www.delalonde.com "www.chateauresidence.com" (Chateau-Bois-Briand, Nantes,Loire-Valley,France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around and About Paris, Vol. 2: From the Guillotine to the Bastille Opera: The 8th-12th Arrondissements (Paperback)

Because Mrs Vallois has a love affair with Paris; because she devoted part of her life to this "cause", she is totally convincing. When you read her descriptions of hidden details on houses nobody noticed before, you understand that Mrs Vallois deserves the right to consider herself as co-owner of "the spirit of Paris". Because this "spirit" is something that was invented by the French to be shared with others, feel free to become a "courtisan". Mrs Vallois books are well documented (no need to say). It's like reading an architectural manual plus an history encyclopedia. All this while walking in charming places. I hope the next books will keep this knowledge embedded in a living style and that Thirza will add more illustrations. Buy this book. It will never look old-fashioned!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply the best, October 30, 2007

By 

Part-time Parisienne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around and About Paris, Vol. 2: From the Guillotine to the Bastille Opera: The 8th-12th Arrondissements (Paperback)

'As someone who has haunted Paris for decades, I can say that there is no more wonderful companion than Thirza Vallois. Her three volumes of Around and About Paris, covering every arrondissement with both erudition and joy, are almost as deep and rich and rewarding as the city itself. They are to be carried about for consulting on foot, and read in your armchair for pleasure and information you will not find in the run-of-the-mill "guide." These books are for explorers and dreamers, scholars and lovers. If you want to know Paris, you can not do better.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About the Bastille ..., June 4, 2007

By 

TundraVision (o/~ from the Land of Sky Blue Waters o/~) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around and About Paris, Vol. 2: From the Guillotine to the Bastille Opera: The 8th-12th Arrondissements (Paperback)

Great book!
and now,
Gentle Readers:

You may have noticed that Amazon made some changes to its website. For more information, view that tube place at /watch?v=PvLilHUaDic.

From June 11 - June 17, I, like many other reviewers on Amazon, did not post any reviews and did not make any purchases. This was the only means we have of showing Amazon how much we detest the new reviews format and the overloaded and confusing product pages.
Amazon revised the product pages (if one looked very, very closely) to allow public input re the redesign. Now I am told, although I do not yet see it, that the "improvements" are being scaled back to a more palatable, user/shopper friendly format.

Thanks and Stay Tuned!

/TundraVision