Customer Reviews

Paris Sewers and Sewermen: Realities and Representations

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This book is a history of the Paris sewer system, replete with the symbolism entailed by the sewer through the ages. It is divided into 3 parts: the sewers and their development, sewermen, and the sewermen's union. Reid traces the development of the sewer system from the times when waste collected in open pools, through the draining of the pools into the Seine and the eventual laws requiring private buildings to connect to the sewers. From almost the very beginning, the sewers needed workers to clear the sediment away and keep the sewage flowing, and Reid explains how the work of the sewermen, as the laborers in the sewer are called, changed over the course of time. Reid also discusses the sewermen's union and the efforts they made not only to assure the security and well-being of the workers, but also to take care of the workers' family members. The book is illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs and drawings. Sources are referenced through extensive end notes. There is also an index.

For Reid, the history of the sewer is found not only in the tunnels themselves and their dates of construction, but also in literature, particularly Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, and other similar works where the sewer has powerful symbolic meanings. While the book is quite interesting from the point of view of public health and city planning, it can be hard to follow at times for those who are not fluent in French, or not thoroughly familiar with Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century French literature and history. Reid leaves many quotes and key terms untranslated from French, assuming that the reader will be able to understand their meanings precisely. He often dates developments not with specific years, like 1825 or 1840, but by referring to such and such a date of the Second Republic, which is fine for those who have a good grounding in French history, but not always accessible to the general reader. Overall though, the book provides a very interesting perspective on an area of history that is often overlooked.

It's really hard to find information on paris sewers, whether it be on the internet or in books. Donald Reid's 'Paris Sewers and Sewermen' explains the history, neccessities, and the realities and representations of the sewers. I found everything I needed. The book also has many allusions to Les Miserables, and Dante's Inferno.

Reading this book, you can learn a lot about the history of those who have worked in the Paris sewers. However, the operation of the sewers isn't discussed in the detail I would have liked.