Customer Reviews

Little Known Museums in and Around Paris

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4 star:		(1)
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Rachel Kaplan's engaging little book is a fascinating guide to some of the many museums in and around Paris that do NOT make it into the big guidebooks. Everyone has heard of the Louvre, the Orsay, even the Musee Rodin, but what about the others? Some of them are small museums run by devoted individuals; at least one (the Musee de la Marine in the Trocadero complex) is, I believe, run by the French government.

This is a book badly in need of updating. Three years ago, when I used to to visit the Maison de Balzac on Rue Raynouard, the information on transportation, hours, and addresses was of relatively recent vintage and, consequently, more trustworthy.

While Kaplan's contributions are wonderful and the many black and white and color photographs memorable, the publisher did a very mediocre job of presentation. I do not care for the book's alphabetic orientation and deplore the unhelpful single map.

One more negative: There are many other small museums in Paris that are not even mentioned in passing, such as the Musee de la Serrure (locks, keys, and door knockers); Musee de la Poste (mail service); Musee Guimet (Oriental art); the new museum of Jewish history near the Pompidou Center -- to mention just a few.

And yet, I look forward in a couple of weeks to visiting the Musee Delacroix and the Musee Cognac-Jay, neither of which appear in my other guidebooks. This is a very useful book for those who wish to explore lesser-known parts of the City of Lights. I look forward to a new edition which will make it even more useful.

Racheal Kaplan's Little-Known Musemus in and around Paris includes reviews of thirty museums and appealing subjects such as the homes of famous authors (i.e. Dumas and Balzac), museums of science, and the decorative arts. Ms. Kaplan is an exceptional raconteur and brings Paris alive with her use of interesting anecdotes, historical facts, and high quality photographs. For the Paris traveler that wants to put a human face to this beautiful city, I would recommend Little-Known Museums in and around Paris.

Rachel Kaplan's book provides an engaging, photographically and well written introduction to little know museums in and around Paris. Having just returned from Paris, and meeting and sharing some "secret places" with the author, I can concur that her knowledge, love of the subject, and accuracy are compelling. This is a wonderful book for the art lover and traveler who want to see beauty that doesn't necessary make the pages of the usual guide books - and misses the tourist crowds as well. Rachel Kaplan's book is worth a visit!

We own a copy of 'Little Known Museums in and Around Paris', and after over 18 years of visiting Paris and its many Great museums, we found that we still missed 12 out of the 30 museums listed in her book.Now we can't wait to go back and visit these 12 that Ms. Kaplan has so thoroughly and appealingly described, with the many magnificent photos and well researched text, this is a book to savour in an armchair, or to use to preview your next trip. We have already put 'The Fan Museum' and the 'Maurice Ravel Museum' on our 'MUST SEE', for our upcoming summer trip. Thank you for listening.

Lana & Murray Singer (New York City)

Whether you're on your first trip to Paris, or a regular visitor, Rachel Kaplan's "Little Known Museums in and Around Paris is a gem. Forget the crowds at the Louvre and Orsay! Follow Rachel's advice and seek out Balzac's home, Maillol's or Zadkine's sculptures, Delacroix's paintings ... Rachel's scholarship and lively style make you want to leave the beaten track and head for these less-famous, less-crowded, first-rate museums.

For those of us who like to see more than what the traditional tourist sees, this is a must have! My wife and I loved it and found it to be a major part of our last trip to Paris!

We recently used this guide extensively while in Paris for a week. Having done the usual "big name" tourist stops, we were looking for a convenient way to see Paris in-depth. This book met our needs completely. I am looking forward to more work from this author.

"Good views of the Arno can be savored from ten rooms at the Ricciarini family's Casa del Lago. There are two parts of the hotel, one new and the other struggling. I recommend a renovated view room with a bath, perhaps No. 15, which has white painted walls, sunshine, space, and a nicely tiled bathroom with a shower stall...the breakfast room has a tranquil view of the Florentine hills." Readers of Sandra Gustafson's delightful Cheap Sleeps in Italy(Chronicle Books, ISBN 0-8118-1094-1, 284pp, $10.95) will find Florence's 2-star Casa del Lago, along with many, many other affordable hotels & pensions in Rome, Florence, and Venice, engagingly and precisely described in this guide to budget accomodations in three great Italian cities. Both useful and fun to read, the 1996 book profiles each 1- to 3-star property in fine detail, including rates, booking information, and whether English is spoken. In many cases Gustafson also recommends the best rooms to request, and there are chapters with savvy advice on making the most of your time in Italy, on any budget. Highly recommended!