The Secret Life of the Seine [Paperback]

Mort Rosenblum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 2001

Mort Rosenblum, a celebrated foreign correspondent, invites us aboard his fifty-four-foot launch tied up in the center of Paris and introduces us to the characters who share his life along the river, ranging from eccentric movie stars and reclusive novelists to barge families just scraping by. He then hauls in the bow line for an unforgettable tour of the river itself from its source to its mouth. The Secret Life of the Seine is a love story between man and boat and the river that they live on, a discourse on the sensual beauty of France and the art of living well. In the tradition of A Year in Provence, Under the Tuscan Sun, and Paris to the Moon, here is what Garry Trudeau called "a moveable feast [with] a top speed of five knots—fast enough for fun, languid enough for dreaming. Take a trip you'll never take: This is what books are for."

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Rosenblum, a correspondent for the Associated Press and former editor-in-chief of the International Herald Tribune , lost his idyllic apartment on Paris's Ile Saint-Louis, he and his companion set up housekeeping on a 54-foot launch on the Seine. Inspired by the "magical Seinescape" and by the diverse, raffish population of its boating community, he mastered the intricacies of navigation so that he could explore the length of the river. Snaking through its canals, surmounting its shallows and locks, Rosenblum followed the Seine from source to mouth, stopping at villages, picnicking on the banks, delving into local history and chatting with barge owners. Once a heavily trafficked freight route, the Seine now barely supports the many barge families struggling to earn a living on it and its waters are polluted (though daring swimmers still find the river irresistible). Its history is rich: entranced by the light, Renoir and Sisley set up their easels along the Seine; Monet designed his water garden; Victor Hugo and Flaubert wrote; and Gertrude Stein ran her dogs. "As for me," notes Rosenblum, "I was hooked." And although, as he adds, "a hundred generations of poets and painters have tried to capture the shifting spirit of the Seine, and no one has managed yet," his own affectionate tribute comes close.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Rosenblum not only shares the romance of life aboard a houseboat moored alongside a quay in Paris, but also candidly (and good-naturedly) reveals the truth about that life. His eccentric collection of river-dwelling neighbors provides plenty of material to enliven this entertaining tour, with everyday happenings capturing the essence of a most curious lifestyle. But living on a houseboat in Paris is only part of the journey. Rosenblum's fierce attachment extends to an exploration of the undulating waterways of France's renowned river. He is a knowledgeable raconteur who travels from the river's source to its final destination, delving into the history of the French people and reflecting on the current living conditions those whose lives are intimately tied to the river's barges. Alice Joyce --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (October 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306810743
• ISBN-13: 978-0306810749
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #846,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than being there, September 3, 2001

By 

guy richardson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Life Of The Seine (Paperback)

Actually living on a boat on the Seine is a pain in the backside with leaks, breakdowns and constant maintenance. *Reading* about living on a boat on the Seine is, however, better than being there. Even though this is non-fiction, colorful characters fill the pages. If you love France, you'll love this book about the river through its heart. Rosenblum's writing is supple and never gets in the way.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what its cracked up to be..., April 12, 2005

By 

K. Wolf "Francophile" (SF Bay Area CA.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret Life of the Seine (Paperback)

If you are interested in the plight of peniche and barge owners on the Seine(in the 1990's), and if you want some historical anecdotes culled from other authors, and info on the amount of tonnage that moves up and down the Seine, floods and navigability issues, then this is the book for you. This is definitely not an idyllic look at living on the Seine. A lot of the traveling between locations is done by car, and once on a Tourist Cruise line. The characters are mostly limited to people explaining the plight of the bargees and their possible future on the river. If you are looking for a Peter Mayle-style book, this isn't it. There are a few charming and funny moments in the first part of the book that lead you to believe that you are in for a "tour" of the river, it's food, beauty and local characters. Don't be fooled. I have spent many hours walking the the Paris Seine and there is definitely more romance than is captured in this book. Overall the book is very informative but not what the reviews lead to expect.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a book to read on a plane to Paris!, May 10, 2006

By 

Mary H. Lesser "doc lesser" (Valdese, NC) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Secret Life of the Seine (Paperback)

This is a great read, particularly if you've been to Paris or are going. It truly gives you a different view of the city. The author is living on a houseboat on the Seine and decides to travel the river from "start" to "finish". Some great characters add to the account of the journey and some interesting history emerges along the way too. I also got a vivid feel for what it must be like without having to actually endure the discomforts!