Markets of Paris: Food, Antiques, Artisanal Crafts, Books & More, with Restaurant Recommendations [Paperback]

Dixon Long (Author), Ruthanne Long (Author), Alison Harris (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2007

The only complete guide to every street market and market district in Paris, with beautiful full color photographs throughout


Perhaps the most pleasurable way for any visitor to feel at home in Paris–and one of the easiest ways to get to know the city–is to meander through any of its dozens of street markets. It's also the best way to find a wide variety of uniquely French gifts–from antique books and botanical prints to flea market finds and household goods–not to mention legendary cheeses, produce, and bounty of the French countryside.

The authors have explored and described every market in every neighborhood. They also have included streets that are devoted to selling one type of thing–from the centuries-old booksellers along the Seine to those lined with stores selling items as varied as fabric and discounted designer clothing.

And, for everyone who feels their time in the city is all too short, they have suggested itineraries based on the opening days of the markets with local restaurant recommendations.

Also included are tips, translations of important phrases, and pointers on what to look for so that the visitor will be able to make the most of this exhilarating and fun French experience.

All the market information is supplemented by sidebars that round out the experience, including a listing of favorite wine bars, a visit to the wood oven in the cellar of the famous bakery Poilane, and strolls down the best shopping streets in Paris.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Longs (Markets of Provence ) turn their attention to Paris in this handy little guidebook. While most general travel guides list the major Parisian markets, like the famous March? aux Fleurs and March? aux Puces de Clignancourt, this guide details all the markets in the city selling food, antiques, books, crafts, and more. Entries provide the standard information for all markets, such as location, days and hours of operation, and nearest Metro stop, as well as the authors' recommendations and detailed descriptions of the articles offered for sale, including specialty items. For travelers with limited time, suggested itineraries list markets by geographic area and open days, which allows the reader to find, for example, a flea market on the Right Bank that is open on Mondays. There are other shopping guides to Paris, such as the volume in Suzy Gershman's "Born To Shop" series, and the Longs' reference this and other titles in a helpful bibliography, but travelers wanting to experience Paris by strolling its markets with the locals will find this guide invaluable. Recommended for public libraries, especially those with larger travel sections." –Library Journal, April 1, 2007

"Markets of Paris is a wonderful book written by the same couple who wrote Markets of Provence. The book is more than a listing of where to locate open and roving markets -- it helps you narrow down which ones are better, what personality each market has, and what you can expect to find at your favorite." --BonjourParis

"You can find pretty much anything you want in the markets of Paris: old letters, dead bears, live chickens. The only problem is that you'd have to roam around hours and hours to find them. The newly released book by [The Little Bookroom] Markets of Paris is a vade mecum for any focused Parisian shopper. A pocket sized book with hundreds of listing, the book will save you hours of searching for obscure curios. And though it retails at $16.95, in terms of opportunity cost, the book is priceless." -Gridskipper

“The Little Book Room has had the brilliant idea to publish books that might actually fit in your carry-on luggage...This is the perfect book format for toting around Paris...Markets of Paris describes in thoughtful prose a variety of Paris markets, focusing primarily on the 65 outdoor food markets that are an essential part of the Paris landscape...Assuming market browsers are bound to start salivating after feasting their eyes on the mountains of fresh fruits, cheeses, pates etc., there’s a helpful guide to bistros, restaurants, cafes, AND even wine bars within easy walking distance from the markets they’ve highlighted...But, for me, what really sets this book apart is the careful prose. Time is taken to capture the essence of how one market’s aura can differ from any other in Paris...There’s just enough here to whet your appetite, get you into the Metro, or putting on your walking shoes to explore neighborhoods that may have escaped your attention. I know that I will be throwing this handy book into my Hermes tote (just kidding!) as soon as the spring weather turns balmy.” –ParisLogue

"There's shopping, and then there's shopping in Paris. For those fortunate enough to have the problem of finding the best Parisian goods, be it cheese, clothing, botanical prints or porcelain, there's Markets of Paris." --Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"Dixon and Ruthanne Long's Markets of Paris catalogs every market in the city, from the fresh meat and produce stalls of the open-air Marche Barbes to the quaint fabric vendors of the Marche Saint-Pierre. It's a perfect guide to a quintessentially romantic feature of the city that's often difficult for visitors to navigate." --Culture & Travel

"Markets of Paris, a chunky pocket guide to Paris markets by Dixon and Ruthanne Long, authors of Markets of Provence, contains details on more than 70 food markets, along with antique, craft, and flea market finds throughout the city." --The Food Section

About the Author

Dixon Long and Ruthanne Long are co-authors of Markets of Provence. Ruthanne Long was a food consultant for wineries in Napa Valley. Dixon Long is a novelist and short story writer, as well as Dean and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Case Western Reserve University. Together they lived in Provence and Paris. Dixon Long now lives in San Anselmo, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Little Bookroom (March 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892145456
• ISBN-13: 978-1892145451
• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.9 x 5.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dixon Long lives in Mill Valley, California. Before moving to the Bay area in 1990, he was professor of Political Science and dean of Western Reserve College at Case Western Reserve University. His account of sailing around the world with two friends, Westward Home, was published by Carpenter Reserve Printing Company in 1979. His first novel, Brothers, was published in 2001 by Creative Arts Book Company, Berkeley. He has co-authored two guides to markets in France, Markets of Provence (HarperCollins, 1966) and Markets of Paris (The Little Bookroom, 2007). His short stories have appeared in several small literary magazines. Part of novella. Weekend in the Luberon, was published in ZYZZYVA 76, Spring 2006. In his academic career, he wrote extensively about the intersection of science, technology and public policy, including Reviews of National Science Policy: Japan (OECD, 1967), and Science Policies of Industrial Nations, with Christopher Wright (Praeger, 1975). His interests outside of writing fiction and travel include gourmet food and wine-tasting. He is a swimmer and hiker, and reads the New York Times and The New Yorker.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bon marche, July 1, 2007

By 

howard junker (san francisco) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Markets of Paris: Food, Antiques, Artisanal Crafts, Books & More, with Restaurant Recommendations (Paperback)

This is a book I've been waiting for. It's portable (in my backpack or my
wife's handbag), it's organized in a way I can understand, and it has every
kind of market I've ever imagined. I'm a market junkie, so maybe my response
is a bit over the top. But I would recommend this book to anyone who wants
to get below the tourist surface of Paris and see how people shop for food,
clothing, fabrics, tools, bric-a-brac, or antiques. I don't speak total
French, but I think I see an opportunity here to schmooze with real
Parisians. Good photos, too.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Friend, July 23, 2007

By 

Eric Zetterquist (Sudbury, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Markets of Paris: Food, Antiques, Artisanal Crafts, Books & More, with Restaurant Recommendations (Paperback)

"Marketing" is one of the most enjoyable pastimes for a visitor in France. This book unlocks the secrets of Paris's many an varied markets in a well organized and helpful manner. The format is discreet; (You don't look like a dork walking around with a big guide book). The descriptions are candid and intelligent and the images evocative of the treasures that await. I particularly enjoyed having restaurant recommendations for each of the neighborhoods covered.
We used the Longs' previous book on the markets of Provence during our trips there and were delighted to find a similar guide for Paris.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book, November 28, 2007

By 

Caroline Tiger (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Markets of Paris: Food, Antiques, Artisanal Crafts, Books & More, with Restaurant Recommendations (Paperback)

I used this book during a July trip to Paris and I'll take it with me again when I go next month. I always try and visit flea markets when I travel, and the Longs' descriptions of the Paris markets that I went to were spot on. I also love the way it's written--through the clear prose and various anecdotes, you can really sense their love for the city, and for its culture and people. And the photos are great, too.